Game Day - A Shot At Retribution, Survival

Game Day

CCHA Playoffs, Round 1, Game 2

Alaska Nanooks vs Michigan State Spartans

7:05PM AKST - Carlson Center, Fairbanks, AK

Live Stats: AlaskaNanooks.com | Live Audio: KCBF 820 Sports

Live Internet Video ($9): AmericaOne | Radio: 820 AM Fairbanks

Twitter: @NanookHockey

So its no secret, last nights loss was probably something that nobody really expected. The Nanooks played well for the most part, but at times I thought they lacked energy. A little more hot and cold than normal, but you can tell the guys really tried to pour it on there at the end of regulation to get the game winner, but it just wouldn't go...

But after the game, I stopped myself and realized that the loss was my fault... In a sport filled with tradition, routine, and superstition I realized that in skipping out on my ritual pre-game meal (Wendy's Spicy Chicken sandwich) I had set up this team for failure. But worry not fans, we're good to go for tonight! 

On that note, the Nanooks are staring at the end of their season straight in the mouth. A loss tonight, and the Nanooks will hang it up for the year. A win and they will force a third game tomorrow with the same implications.

There are a number of teams throughout history in various sports that have come from long odds to win it all. The Nanooks are faced with the same situation now, but just six games. Six wins is all the Nanooks need to win the final CCHA championship. The boys did it in January, and they are perfectly capable of doing it again. Channeling their inner Mighty Ducks from D2 as they power through the rest of the playoffs.

In other, more urgent news... One of the Nanooks top forwards Colton Beck will miss tonight's game due to an injury sustained on a hit by Justin Hoomaian in the first period yesterday. Beck missed a few shifts, but was back in the game by the end of the first period. Missing him on the top line tonight could be big, but hopefully the Nanooks can persevere and push through without him tonight. Hopefully he'll be available to suit up tomorrow.

As a result of that scratch, the Nanooks lines have shifted pretty significantly up front. Richard Coyne comes in on the left side on the fourth line. Yaremchuk moves up to left wing in Beck's place. Youngmun fills in for Nik on the right wing, and Huysmans moves to swap with Hajdukovich on Henderson's line. Defensively, Kaiser comes in to continue the rotation with JD Peterson on the right side paired with Odegard.

Here is the full line charts for Alaska after the break.

Alaska Nanooks

F1 7 Nik Yaremchuk - 37 Cody Kunyk - 29 Andy Taranto (A)

F2 17 Jarret Granberg - 27 Tyler Morley - 25 Nolan Youngmun

F3 12 Garrick Perry - 14 Adam Henderson (C) - 24 Nolan Huysmans

F4 5 Richard Coyne - 20 Matt Friese - 11 Alec Hajdukovich

D1 6 Michael Quinn - 4 Colton Parayko

D2 22 Josh Atkinson - 18 Trevor Campbell

D3 13 Kaare Odegard (A) - 23 Nolan Kaiser

G1 39 John Keeney

G2 1 Steve Thompson

G3 38 Sean Cahill