Seawolves Simplicity Leads to Nanooks Demise

The Nanooks played very well, in a game they should have won. They outplayed the Seawolves on both ends, but some key mistakes in the 2nd period was the difference maker tonight.

The 1st period was full of fun. The Nanooks controlled play for a lot of the period, but found themselves trapped a few times after a repeated problem icing the puck. The Seawolves got themselves into penalty trouble after some sustained Nanooks pressure. Warner's first of two for the period.

That penalty would be the difference as the Nanooks power play, which has clicked at 36.4% over the last 6 games, would not be denied. Andy Taranto took it across the blue line and drove the slot on the rush and beat Kamal on a fantastic snipe over the blocker for the 1-0 lead.

But the omens in the 2nd would not be so kind, as the 'Nooks would surrender 3 unanswered in the 2nd stanza. The first goal coming on a good shot by Eric Sheid, who scored the game-winner in the UAA victory over St. Cloud last week.

A bit later, Korey Roy got a clean breakaway chance but was taken down from behind by Michael Quinn, resulting in a penalty shot. The chance didn't phase Greenham, as he had peered into his soul and predicted where the shot was going before Korey did.

Even though Greenham got the save, that was a bit of a sigh of relief moment. But then, right off the next faceoff, ACC took the 2-1 lead.

Then, out of nowhere, an unsuspecting rolling puck came on net and beat Greenham. He didn't look very happy, but you need a short memory when something like that happens, and he shut the door for the rest of the period. It also gave the Seawolves the infamous 2 goal lead headed into the 3rd.

The Nanooks took it to the house in the 3rd period, not allowing a single shot on goal through the first 10 minutes. Eventually, one broke through for the 'Nooks but it took them a while to figure it out. Henderson's shot rung through over Kamal over the glove.  But they had to go to the review to catch it. Immediately upon the shot, I called the goal, it was a great shot just inside the corner.

A glorious opportunity arose for the Nanooks to tie the game with an interference call to Jade Portwood. But a good PK by the Seawolves kept the play around the net minimal. The Nanooks kept the play tight, and chances abounded, but they couldn't connect. And that would be the dagger that would seal the Nanooks fate.

Kamal played very well, and will likely get the call in net tomorrow for game 2 back in Fairbanks. The final shots on net were Nanooks 29, Seawolves 17. Nanooks outshot ACC 13-2 in the 3rd period. More to come a bit later.