The chances were there, the effort was there, the intensity was there and the combination added up to one of the most complete performances of the year for the UAA Seawolves.
The only thing missing was a goal. Or two.
On a night when the Seawolves did almost everything right, the one thing they did wrong sent them to defeat.
Matt Overman's soft first-period goal and Drew O'Connell's unlikely 28-save performance in goal stood up for a 1-0 Colorado College win Friday night at Sullivan Arena.
"I thought we were the better team on the ice tonight," UAA coach Dave Shyiak said. "If you look at all the statistical categories, we outshot them in every period, faceoffs were good, hits were up, turnovers were down, we played with good intensity, good effort.
"Our power play didn't score. It needs to score, but we got some good looks at the net. We did everything we possibly could but put the puck in the net."
O'Connell -- a two-time Alaska state champion at Service playing for the third time all season and the first since Nov. 2 -- was the difference for the fourth-ranked Tigers, who lead the WCHA by four points over Denver.
Entering the game with an 0-2-0 record, a 5.02 goals-against average and an .841 save percentage, O'Connell turned in an impression of a brick wall.
"It feels great, it's a storybook ending," the junior said. "It's great to play in front of my family."
O'Connell did that two years ago as a freshman and gave up three goals before getting yanked.
"Last year (when CC played in the Nye Frontier Classic) that was in the back of my mind a lot," O'Connell said. "You never forget. Getting the hook in front of your hometown friends and family, it's embarrassing.
"I grew up in this building. I watched a lot of games here. Every Friday and Saturday, every chance I could I'd come to UAA games."
The Seawolves, playing for just the third time in three weeks, quashed any thoughts of rink rust early, coming out of the gate strong in the first period. If anything, it was Colorado College that looked sluggish through the first 12 minutes.
UAA had strong puck possession, established a quality cycle and generated several scoring chances.
For their troubles, the Seawolves found themselves on the short end of a 1-0 score. UAA was cycling strong and had three guys in front of the net when a big rebound caromed out to the blue line.
Shane Lovdahl loaded up for a bomb, but broke his stick in the process. He retreated to the UAA bench for new lumber only to find a 4-on-2 rush coming back the other way.
Overman got off a fairly weak shot that goalie Jon Olthuis couldn't handle, and the puck trickled in for a goal -- the only glaring error of the night for UAA.
To their credit the Seawolves did not seem fazed by the softie, and continued to carry the play.
O'Connell continued his mastery into the second period. No matter what the Seawolves threw his way -- slap shots, snap shots, wristers, power-play chances, transition rushes -- the junior was equal to the task.
"It was just unlucky bounces," sophomore center Paul Crowder said. "We threw everything at them, we just couldn't get the puck in the net."
UAA had three power-play opportunities in the second period and was really swarming on the second one. But again, nothing went in.
The third period was more of the same -- chance after quality chance with nothing to show for it. The result: UAA's second shutout loss in a row at home.
"Our guys kept going, kept on pressing," Shyiak said. "Sooner or later we thought it was going to go in. It was one of those nights.
"It's one of our better games this year, if not the best, from the first minute to the 60th minute. I was proud of our guys. They did everything we asked."
O'Connell made the most of his opportunity, despite a dealing with a few butterflies after learning Thursday he would start.
"I was pretty nervous when I found out," he said. "I was pretty nervous in the pregame meal today. But I forgot about it all when I got out there."
Eric Walsky, another Anchorage kid who started his career at UAA before transferring to Colorado, registered just one shot on goal and was otherwise absent from the scoresheet.
Seawolves notes
The Seawolves are holding a food drive before tonight's rematch with the Tigers. Adults who bring two cans or non-perishable items of food can get in for $5, kids 12 and under get in free with a parent.
Find Andrew Hinkelman online at adn.com/contact/ahinkelman or call 257-4335.
Colorado College 1 0 0 -- 1
UAA 0 0 0 -- 0
First Period -- 1, Overman 1 (Rau), 6:01. Penalties -- Hillen, CC (obstruction-hooking), 13:24.
Second Period -- None. Penalties -- Colorado College bench minor, served by Kilpatrick (too many men), 7:37; Lampl, CC (interference), 12:09; Hillen, CC (holding), 14:32; Clark, UAA (cross-checking), 18:35.
Third Period -- None. Penalties -- Haddad, UAA (obstruction-hooking), 2:01; Testwuide, CC (interference), 7:51; Waldrop, UAA (elbowing-contact to the head), 11:18; Sweatt, CC (slashing), 13:06; McCulloch, CC (roughing), 14:31; Lunden, UAA (roughing), 14:31.
Shots on Goal -- Colorado College 8-3-5--16; UAA 11-7-10--28.
Power-play Opportunities -- Colorado College 0 of 3; UAA 0 of 6.
Goalies -- Colorado College, O'Connell 1-2-0 (28 shots-28 saves). UAA, Olthuis 3-4-3 (16-15).
A -- 3,544 (6,251). T -- 2:05.
Referees -- Anderson, Carey. Linesmen -- Steve Glines, Scott Sivulich.
