Saturday, March 21, 2009

Live Blog: Northern Michigan/Alaska

Third period

End of game: For the second straight year, NMU wins the consolation game, this time by a 2-0 score. Sirota scores an empty-netter with 12 seconds to go to seal the victory.

0:46: After an icing call, there is another faceoff to the right of Janzen that the Nanooks win.

1:05: Dallas Ferguson takes a timeout for the Nanooks to try and set up a last-minute play.

1:12: Johnson vacates the net and Janzen robs Brandon Knelsen on the doorstep.

2:09: Ryan Hohl fires a shot in on Janzen and there is another faceoff in the NMU zone, The Nanooks control the puck and fire another shot, but lose the ensuing draw.

3:12: After a stoppage in play, time in dwindling for UAF, which is looking to avoid a winless weekend. NMU wins the draw and the puck is deep in the UAF end.

7:09: Walls fires a slapper from the right boards at Janzen, who appears handcuffed but still makes the stop with his right pad.

9:00: NMU's Nicholas Kosinski limps off the ice holding his chest and immediately heads to the locker room. No penalties are called.

11:51: Northern Michigan's Fox receives a boarding penalty. This could be Alaska's last good chance before it's forced to pull Johnson for an extra skater.

12:13: Janzen robs UAF's Dion Knelsen with his right toe. Look for play to really open up as both teams will go all in for a chance at one more win this season.

14:02: NMU's Tyler Gron goes coast-to-coast on a breakaway and beats Johnson on the backhand on the Wildcats 20th shot; 1-0 Northern Michigan.

18:28: Northern Michigan's Phil Fox cuts in on a breakaway and is stoned by Johnson's glove hand.

Second period

End of second period: Alaska holds a slight edge in shots, 18-16. This is looking like another one-goal game, with the first goal being the most important.

3:50: After UAF gets assessed a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty, the Wildcats set up a nice looking power play, arguably their best of the game.

4:48: Northern Michigan survives a pair of UAF chances, including one that clanks off Janzen's facemask.

6:47: Kosinski is latest victim of a penalty call, giving the Nanooks a man advantage. Knelsen gets a good chance of the faceoff, but rattles one off the crossbar.

8:10: Dion Knelsen cuts in Janzen but misses the net from close range.

9:37: UAF's Ron Meyers gets sent to the sin bin for tripping. Let's see if NMU can finally find the net and get some good scoring chances.

13:46: NMU's Nick Sirota intercepts an errant pass in UAF territory, but Johnson comes up with the stop.

17:34: Nothing on the power play for UAF, including zero shots on net.

19:34: Northern Michigan's Blake Cosgrove gets called for a quick penalty. Alaska goes on the man advantage for the first time today.

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End of first period: Shots on goal totals: NMU 6, UAF 7. Alaska successfully kills off the first power play of the game.

2:39: I spoke too soon. UAF's Joe Sova heads off to the penalty box.

4:00: This game is quickly beginning to look like yesterday's games: limited chances, defensive-oriented. One difference is that there has yet to be a penalty called.

5:40: After a giveaway by the Nanooks in their own end, NMU has a flurry of opportunities in front of Johnson, but again do not register a shot on goal.

7:00: NMU's Andrew Cherniwchan decks UAF's Ryan Hohl along the far boards, drawing the first cheers from the crowd thus far.

8:45: This game will go by quick, as there will be no television timeouts. FS Detroit will broadcast the CCHA Championship later today.

10:29: Johnson gloves a Gregor Hanson shot from down low. It continues to be a slow pace to begin the game.

14:22: It looks like an NMU power play, as the Wildcats have pressured deep in the UAF zone. The problem for Northern Michigan, though, it that it can't seem to get the puck to the net, whether it be because of missed passes or blocked shots.

19:23: UAF's Braden Walls gets an early chance, but Janzen comes up with a nice pad save. Northern Michigan is now pressuring deep in Nanooks territory,

20:00: Derek Janzen gets the start in net for Northern Michigan, while CCHA Player of the Year Chad Johnson is between the pipes for the Nanooks.

Five minutes prior to puck-drop: A much lighter crowd is on hand for the first game of the day compared to Friday. The Wildcats are looking to win the 3rd place game for the second straight year.

DETROIT -- Follow all the action of Saturday's CCHA consolation game between NMU and UAF.

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