DULUTH, Minn. - Minnesota Duluth clinched a two-game home sweep over Alaska Anchorage with a 5-0 shutout victory here tonight at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center.
The Seawolves (12-19-3, 8-19-1 WCHA), who surrendered a season-high 46 shots to the Bulldogs (12-18-4, 8-15-3 WCHA), fell to 10th in the conference standings with the loss, while UMD moved ahead of UAA to ninth.
Junior goaltender Nathan Lawson stopped a season-high 41 saves, including 18 in the opening period.
Each team went scoreless on the power play, with UAA going 0-of-6 and UMD 0-of-5.
Nick Kemp scored two goals for the Bulldogs, including a shorthanded tally in the first period that gave UMD a 1-0 lead. Mason Raymond, Matt Niskanend and Matt McKnight also recorded goals for the Bulldogs, who improved to 6-1-0 in their last seven home games.
The 'Dogs, who outshot UAA 19-4 in the first frame, led 1-0 after one period and 3-0 after two, before scoring twice in the opening 2:36 of the third.
The Seawolves, who are 2-8-0 in their last 10 games, were held to 18 shots.
Bulldog netminder Josh Johnson's (18 saves) shutout win was the first for UMD on home ice in 173 games. The shutout loss was the fifth by the Seawolves this season.
Freshman Paul Crowder led UAA's offensive efforts with a team-high three shots on goal.
The Seawolves, who are idle next weekend, will face either Minnesota or St. Cloud State in the first round of the WCHA playoffs Mar. 9-11. The Golden Gophers have a three-point edge over the second place Huskies in the race for the MacNaughton Cup with one weekend of games remaining for each team.
