The good times did not last long for UAA on Friday night -- by one measure, just 2 minutes, 51 seconds.
That was the duration of the Seawolves' lead at Bemidji State of Minnesota, where they seized their first lead since Jan. 17. Yet they quickly relinquished the advantage, and endured more of the same in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association -- namely, another loss.
The Beavers' 3-2 victory at the Sanford Center delivered the Seawolves' seventh consecutive loss, their longest stretch of futility in coach Matt Thomas' two seasons behind the bench.
UAA's loss further damaged its chances of making the WCHA playoffs. The Seawolves (7-18-4, 4-17-2 WCHA) continue to hold down last place in the 10-team league -- the last-place team will be the only eligible team that won't make the league postseason -- and failed to make up ground on ninth-place and idle Lake Superior State of Michigan. The Lakers own a three-point lead on UAA, which has five regular-season games remaining.
While the Seawovles generated strong work in the first and third periods, they were undone in the second period, when the Beavers (13-14-1, 9-10-4 WCHA) scored twice to erase a 2-1 deficit and earn a 3-2 lead.
Kyle Bauman's breakaway backhander two minutes into the second period forged a 2-2 tie and Charlie O'Connor's team-leading 11th goal six minutes later stood as the game-winning strike. The Beavers outshot the Seawolves 9-2 in the second period.
UAA outshot Bemidji State 12-9 in the first period and grabbed a 2-1 lead on goals from freshman Anthony Conti on the power play and sophomore Dylan Hubbs at even strength. Those goals offset Bauman's goal to open the scoring less than two minutes into the game. They also gave UAA the first lead it has enjoyed since a 3-2 overtime win at UAF last month, which is the last time it won.
UAA outshot Bemidji State 10-8 in the third period, but could not crack Michael Bitzer (22 saves) for the equalizer.
"We showed some push-back after going down 1-0,'' Thomas said in a text. "Our second period hurt us. But we played hard in the third period and couldn't find the equalizer.
"It's a step, but we need a bigger one to accomplish our goals.''
Freshman goaltender Olivier Mantha stopped 23 shots for UAA.
A one-goal loss was progress of sorts for UAA, which lost 5-1 and 10-0 at home to Michigan Tech last weekend and had been outscored 24-3 in its previous four games before Friday.
Yet the only thing that matters this deep into the season is earning points in the standings, and the Seawolves again came up empty on that front. And the noose tightens on them entering Saturday's rematch in Bemidji.
Seawolves notes
UAA began the game leading Division I in penalty minutes per game, but committed just one penalty and afforded the Beavers just one power play. That tied the fewest power plays in a game for a Seawolves opponent this season.
Bemidji came up empty on that power play, snapping a streak of six straight games in which UAA's opponent scored at least one man-advantage goal.
Scott Allen's assist on Conti's goal marked the 75th career point for the senior who usually plays left wing but centered Conti and Brett Cameron on Friday.
Freshman Matt Anholt's assist on Hubbs' goal was his first point in the last seven games.
Hubbs' goal was the sophomore's fifth, one more than he scored as a rookie.
UAA early in the season received substantial scoring from the blue line, but that has dried up. Seawolves defensemen have generated just one goal in the last 15 games.
Conti's power-play goal snapped UAA's streak of 13 consecutive fruitless power plays.
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockey-blog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr