Seawolves can't keep roll intact

Considering they trailed by two goals early and were required to burn off four straight short-handed situations, including an extended two-man disadvantage in the second period, the Seawolves entered the third period in prime position -- locked in a 2-2 tie.

But the Huskies used Deron Cousens' power-play goal 65 seconds into the third period and Malcolm Gwilliam's empty netter in the waning seconds to hold off the Seawolves.

Cousens' goal marked Michigan Tech's second power-play strike of the game, adding to John Kivisto's first-period goal. And Alex Gagne's first-period goal for the Huskies basically came with the man advantage -- he scored one second after a UAA penalty expired.

"Anytime you go into the third period even, you're setting the stage pretty good,'' UAA coach Dave Shyiak said by phone from Houghton, Mich. "I thought we battled back hard.

"It was a special-teams game. They basically scored three power-play goals.''

Michigan Tech enjoyed nine power plays, including two full minutes of a 5-on-3 advantage that the Seawolves killed in the second period. Still, all that time short-handed diminished UAA's attack.

"We just took too many back-to-back penalties, and it's going to hurt you,'' Shyiak said. "Five-on-five, we were fine -- I thought we carried the play.''

Point made -- Michigan Tech managed just 26 shots on goal even with those nine power plays.

After Michigan Tech jumped out to a 2-0 lead 11 minutes into the game at MacInnes Student Ice Arena, UAA countered on the strength of sophomore winger Tommy Grant.

Grant bagged a power-play goal off Brian Bales' nifty feed 58 seconds into the second period. He added another goal, his team-leading fifth of the season, to forge a 2-2 tie just three minutes later.

After scoring five goals and furnishing two assists for seven points in 31 games as a freshman last season, Grant is off to a blistering start this season. He owns 5-3--8 totals in seven games.

"It's strength-related,'' Shyiak said of Grant's emergence. "He worked hard over the summer. Now, he's utilizing his speed, driving the net and going to those ugly areas.''

UAA entered the series on a four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1) after beating and tying Minnesota- Duluth in its WCHA-opening series last week and seizing UAF's Brice Alaska Goal Rush tournament two weeks ago. The Seawolves (4-2-1 overall, 1-1-1 WCHA) close their series on the Upper Peninsula tonight with a rematch against the Huskies (2-3-0, 1-2-0 WCHA).

Seawolves notes

Bales has provided at least one point in all seven UAA games. His assist was his team-leading eighth helper this season.

Junior center Paul Crowder's six-game points streak to open the season was snapped.

The Seawolves went 1 for 5 on the power play and have scored at least one power-play goal in six of their seven games. UAA's opponent has enjoyed more power plays than the Seawolves in each of the last five games.

Freshman defenseman Curtis Leinweber made the trip to Houghton but did not play Friday. He has sat out the last six games with a groin injury suffered in the season opener.

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Find Doyle Woody's blog online at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.

UAA 0 2 0 -- 2

MTU 2 0 2 -- 4

First Period -- 1, MTU, Gagne 1 (Olson, Kinrade), 3:59; 2, MTU, Kivisto 1 (Kattelus, Dobson), 11:05 (pp). Penalties -- Backstrom, UAA (holding the stick), 1:58; Parkinson, UAA (hooking), 9:25; Bunger, MTU (holding), 11:52; Smith, UAA (interference), 14:00; Kitti, MTU (hooking), 17:21; Nolan, MTU, served by Soley (slashing), 19:39.

Second Period -- 3, UAA, Grant 4 (Bales, Lafranchise), :58 (pp); 4, UAA, Grant 5 (Moir), 4:00. Penalties -- Clark, UAA (hooking), 7:37; Lafranchise, UAA (interference), 11:07; Bales, UAA (hooking), 11:30; Hunt, UAA (slashing), 12:45; Kivisto, MTU (roughing), 16:54; Lunden, UAA (roughing), 16:54; Parkinson, UAA (interference), 19:30.

Third Period -- 5, MTU, Cousens 1 (Olson, Kinrade), 1:05 (pp); 6, MTU, Gwilliam 2 (Gagne, Baker), 19:49 (en). Penalties -- Backstrom, UAA (cross-checking), 3:01; Gagne, MTU (slashing), 4:19; Bunger, MTU (holding), 4:33.

Shots on goal -- UAA 8-12-7--27. MTU 9-12-5--26.

Power-play Opportunities -- UAA 1 of 5; MTU 2 of 9.

Goalies -- UAA, Olthuis 2-2-0 (25 shots-22 saves). MTU, Nolan 1-3-0 (27-25).

A -- 2,161 (4,200). T -- 2:15.

Referees -- Brad Shepherd, C.J. Beaurline. Linesmen -- Ed Moberg, Damon Beiring.

UAF 2, Miami (Ohio) 1

Junior center Dion Knelsen scored two goals and Chad Johnson furnished 21 saves Friday to give UAF a 2-1 win at nationally-ranked Miami (Ohio) in Oxford.

The Nanooks handed the RedHawks, ranked No. 6 in one poll and No. 7 in another, their first Central Collegiate Hockey Association loss of the season.

UAF has surrendered just six goals in seven games under first-year coach Dallas Ferguson, the former Nanooks defenseman.

Knelsen leads the Nanooks (4-2-1, 2-1-0 CCHA) in scoring with 3-4--7 totals in seven games. Miami (Ohio) slipped to 3-2-2 overall and 3-1-1 in league.