DULUTH, Minn. ? Sophomore winger Josh Lunden's game-tying goal with 1:40 remaining in regulation helped give Alaska Anchorage an important road point as the Seawolves fought back to tie No. 15 Minnesota Duluth 3-3 here tonight at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center.
The back-and-forth game would feature three even-strength tallies by UAA (4-5-4, 1-5-3 WCHA) and three special team scores from UMD (6-5-4, 5-5-3 WCHA).
The Seawolves, who notched the game's equalizer while skating with an extra attacker, halted their two-game losing skid with the tie. UAA also put an end to its streak of consecutive Friday night shutout losses at two.
Seawolf senior Peter Cartwright tied a career-best by recording a game-high three assists, while seniors Merit Waldrop and Blair Tassone each scored two points, chipping in a goal and an assist each.
Sophomore goaltender Jon Olthuis earned his fifth career draw with a 24-save effort, including stopping 10 shots each in both the second and third periods. The Neerlandia, Alberta product made two stops in the overtime.
Nick Kemp led the Bulldogs with a two-goal outing, while Matt McKnight and Jason Garrison each recorded two assists.
After falling behind 1-0 on a shorthanded tally from Kemp at 13:09 of the first period, the Seawolves would storm back with two goals in a 30 second span from Waldrop and Tassone to take a 2-1 lead at the 15:07 mark.
Waldrop buried his second goal of the season on a break away at 14:37, while Tassone would connect for his second tally of the year a half minute later after receiving a perfect feed from linemate Peter Cartwight who was skating behind the UMD net.
A penalty against UAA late in the first would carry over into the second frame, as UMD would knot the game 47 seconds into the period on Kemp's second score of the night.
UMD's Andrew Carroll would put the homestanding Bulldogs ahead for the second time in the game with a power-play marker at 4:34 of the final period.
The Seawolves had a multitude of opportunities in the period, including a string of three power-play chances, including a 17 second two-man advantage midway through the period, but were held in check by the league's top-ranked penalty kill unit.
After pulling Olthuis in favor of an extra attacker with 1:54 remaining in regulation, Cartwright would win a crucial faceoff keeping the puck in UMD's zone. Junior defenseman Shane Lovdahl blasted a shot from the point that was blocked by Bulldog goaltender Alex Stalock (32 saves), but the rebound would be corralled by Lunden, who would wrist it into the net for his team-leading sixth goal of the season, sending the game into overtime.
UAA, who outshot UMD 35-27, was unable to get a shot on goal in the extra session.
The Seawolves were held scoreless in five attempts with the man advantage, while the Bulldogs would connect on 2-of-5 chances. The shorthanded goal scored by UMD was the first allowed by UAA this season.
The extra session contest marked the 150th overtime game played in program history and the 11th all-time tie against the Bulldogs.
The same two teams will meet for the final time in the regular season Saturday at 4:07 p.m. (Alaska)
