The Seawolves found Fairbanks to their liking yet again Friday night, when they snuffed the rival Nanooks at their own game and gained the upper hand in the annual clash between Alaska's two college hockey teams.

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Bryce Christianson

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Paul Crowder's power-play goal with less than four minutes to go at the Carlson Center and Bryce Christianson's 31 saves staked UAA to a 1-0 win over UAF in Game 1 of the two-game Governor's Cup.

UAA is 3-0-0 at the Carlson this season, with wins earlier this season against Maine and Mercyhurst in UAF's early-season tournament.

The Seawolves, who have won the last two Cups after a five-year run by UAF, have also lorded over the Nanooks of late. They are 7-0-2 in their last nine meetings and have not lost to UAF since New Year's Eve 2005.

Fresh off Christianson's first career shutout, the Seawolves (11-15-5) entertain the Nanooks tonight at Sullivan Arena. UAF must win the game to force a post-game shootout to determine the cup. A tie or win by the Seawolves will keep the Cup in their mitts and tie the all-time Governor's Cup series, which dates back to 1993-94, at eight victories apiece.

The Nanooks (15-12-6) sport the most diligent defense among the nation's 58 Division I hockey teams -- they allow opponents a mere 1.70 goals per game. And senior goaltender Chad Johnson (30 saves) ranks second in the country in both goals-against average (1.69) and save percentage (.938).

But the Nanooks suffer from poverty of punch -- Friday's shutout loss was the ninth bagel they've been fed this season. UAF averages 2.00 goals per game, tied for 53rd in the country.

Johnson and Christianson staged a classic goaltender's duel, with the sophomore gaining the edge when Crowder, the Seawolves' leading point producer, scored his 13th goal.

The victory snapped UAA's three-game losing streak and its four-game winless streak (0-3-1).

The Seawolves held the Nanooks in check on five power plays, including a five-minute man advantage in the first period after defenseman Jared Tuton was penalized for checking from behind.

UAA has one Western Collegiate Hockey Association series remaining, a two-game set at Minnesota-Duluth next weekend. The Seawolves sit ninth in the 10-team league and will play on the road in the first round of the league playoffs next month.

UAF stands fourth in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and closes its regular season tonight before its league playoffs next month.

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

UAA 0 0 1 -- 1

UAF 0 0 0 -- 0

First Period -- None. Penalties -- Crowder, UAA (tripping), 5:52; Tuton, UAA, major-game misconduct, served by Aiken (checking from behind), 13:05.

Second Period -- None. Penalties -- Selby, UAA (tripping), 3:39; UAA bench minor, served by Aiken (too many men), 8:31; Enders, UAF (tripping), 13:42; UAF bench minor, served by Hohl (too many men), 16:01.

Third Period -- 1, UAA, Crowder 13 (Hunt, Clark), 16:49 (pp). Penalties -- Sova, UAF (roughing), 6:19; Portwood, UAA (roughing), 6:19; Meyers, UAF (hooking), 16:20; Portwood, UAA (boarding), 19;02; Walls, UAF (roughing), 19:51; Selby, UAA (holding), 19:51.

Shots on goal -- UAA 10-10-11--31. UAF 7-11-13--31.

Power-play Opportunities -- UAA 1 of 3; UAF 0 of 5.

Goalies -- UAA, Christianson 6-7-4 (31 shots-31 saves). UAF, Johnson 12-12-5 (31-30).

A -- 4,058 (4,324). T -- 2:30.

Referees -- Don Adam, Tim Walsh. Assistant referees -- Darren Kadel, Josh Norum.

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