FAIRBANKS – Alaska Anchorage clinched the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup for the second consecutive season as it would use a three-goal third period to skate past rival Alaska Fairbanks 4-2 here tonight at the Carlson Center.
The Seawolves (6-7-4, 2-7-3 WCHA) scored four unanswered goals, including three straight on the power-play, to erase a 1-0 first-period deficit and earn their fifth consecutive win against the Nanooks (3-10-2, 3-7-2 CCHA).
The win, UAA's third on the road this season, gives it an insurmountable 3-0 series lead over its archrival with one game remaining in the four-game series.
Junior defenseman Shane Lovdahl scored a career-high four assists to lead UAA's offensive efforts, while freshman forward Craig Parkinson chipped in three points (1g, 2a) and sophomore forwards Kevin Clark and Paul Crowder would tally a goal and an assist each.
Sophomore goaltender Jon Olthuis stopped 30 shots, including 12 in the first period and 11 in the second, while improving to 3-0-1 all-time against UAF.
Trailing 1-0 after a Tyler Eckford goal midway through the first period, the Seawolves would receive a power-play score from Parkinson at 4:18 of the second knotting the game at 1-1.
UAA grabbed it first lead (2-1) at 2:44 of the third on a power-play strike from Clark, and would build its advantage to two on Crowder's power-play marker at 8:51. Sophomore winger Josh Lunden added an insurance goal with an even-strength score at 12:48 of the period.
Dustin Sather scored a late goal for UAF, while goalie Wylie Rogers would end the night with 30 saves.
After attempting just 15 shots through the first two periods, the Seawolves would fire a season-high 19 shots on goal in the deciding third frame while limiting the Nanooks to only eight attempts. UAA ended the game with a 34-32 edge in total shots.
UAA's 3-for-5 effort on the power play marked its best output with the man advantage this season. UAF was limited to one power-play score in six attempts.
The Seawolves, who are now unbeaten in their last 11 non-conference tilts at 8-0-3, extended their unbeaten streak against the Nanooks to seven (6-0-1) with the win.
The Cup win is the seventh all-time for UAA, which owns a 24-18-5 overall advantage in the series since the introduction of the Cup in 1993-94.
The final game of the four-game series faces off at 7 p.m. Saturday.
