West sophomore Alec Butcher wanted to wait for the right time to make a good first impression.

Butcher's power play goal -- the first of his varsity career -- with 5:52 remaining in overtime lifted West to a wild come-from-behind victory over Service at Ben Boeke Arena on Tuesday night.

"He's a real talented player, but he's been kind of snakebitten for us," said West coach Jeff Carlson. "I guess he picked the right time to do it."

Butcher's goal was the second consecutive power play score for West (1-0 Cook Inlet Conference, 3-0 overall), which trailed for most of the game before captain Dylan Wisthoff put in Butcher's rebound with 1:03 left in regulation to tie things up at 2-2.

On the game-winner, Butcher said he saw the puck come to him after Service goalie Cody Gongora had initially stuffed the Eagles in front. The sophomore held the puck, waited for Gongora to react, then flicked it in for the game-winner.

"Patience, patience, patience," he said.

The game featured 29 penalties, including 17 on the Cougars (0-1 CIC, 3-1 overall), who skated down a man for nine minutes and 34 seconds of the game's final 12:52. After picking up 11 penalties through the first two periods, West was whistled for one in the third period and overtime.

Cougars coach Keith Morris refused to comment on the officiating, but said it was difficult for his team to get into any kind of a rhythm during the latter stages of the contest.

"How could you when you can't play five-on-five?" he asked.

The 17 penalties will cost the Cougars $250 thanks to an Alaska School Activities Association rule mandating fines for games in which a team is whistled for 15 or more infractions.

Morris said it was his team's inability to put the Eagles away, rather than the penalties, which cost the Cougars.

"The reality of it is we didn't play well enough to win," he said.

West beat Service in both conference games last season by 5-4 scores, and the two teams played as if Tuesday night's showdown was more personal than most.

"It's really turned into a pretty good rivalry with them," Carlson said.

Wisthoff picked up a 10-minute misconduct for West, as did Service captain Keenan Vivian and forward Tim Munoz, whose ugly check from behind of West's Byers Kadow also earned him a game disqualification and a seat in the stands when Service plays East on Friday.

Service opened the game with a pair of first-period goals, getting a nifty top-shelf finish from Cody Hansen with the teams skating four-on-four and a rebound put-back from Garrett Brown. Hansen's was the game's prettiest goal, as the senior juggled the puck on his stick before putting on the brakes, cutting across the goal mouth and going backhand on West goalie Blake Mendenhall.

West had the lone goal of the second period on a put-back by Beau Snelson, who beat a falling-down Gongora after Gongora had snuffed out Adam Manzer's breakaway attempt.

Gongora finished with 34 saves for the Cougars, while Blake Mendenhall pushed his record to 3-0 on the season with 20 stops, including all 12 he faced after the first period.

After celebrating with his teammates in the locker room, Butcher said he never imagined his first varsity goal would come at such a crucial moment.

"It's great, I'm speechless right now," he said, pausing to receive congratulations from several West students gathered outside the team's locker room.

"It's pure joy times ten," he added. "Plus more."

Find Matt Tunseth online at adn.com/contact/mtunseth or call 257-4335.

Service 2 0 0 0 -- 2

West 0 1 1 1 -- 3

First Period -- 1, Service, Hnasen (Lamothe), 9:13; 2, Service, Brown (Stilwell) 6:16. Penalties -- Service 5 for 10. West 7 for 22.

Second Period -- 3, West, Spelson (Manzer), 8:12. Penalties -- Service 4 for 8. West 4 for 8.

Third Period -- 4, West, Wisthoff (Butcher) 1:03 pp. Penalties -- Service 5 for 19. West 1 for 2.

Overtime -- 5, West, Butcher (Wichorek, Langford) 5:52 pp. Penalties -- Service 2 for 12..

Goalies -- West, Mendenhall (8-7-4-1--20). Service, Gongora (5-11-17-1--34).

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