ANCHORAGE ? Sophomore forwards Paul Crowder and Ken Selby scored goals and sophomore goaltender Jon Olthuis made 31 saves as Alaska Anchorage fought back from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 tie with #17 Minnesota tonight at Sullivan Arena.
The Seawolves (7-18-8, 3-18-6 WCHA) snapped a six-game losing skid with the tie ? the first in the series since 2002 ? while extending their current unbeaten streak over Minnesota (13-13-9, 7-11-7 WCHA) to two games (1-0-1).
UAA found itself down 2-0 after a pair first-period goals from Golden Gopher defenseman Derek Peltier, including a score 27 seconds after the opening faceoff, but would cut the lead in half just before the first break on Crowder's seventh tally of the season at 19:23.
Crowder, who ended a six-game pointless skid with the goal, blasted a hard shot from just inside the blueline Gopher goalie Alex Kangas (26 saves) initially got a piece of before crossing the goal line. Sophomore Josh Lunden notched his 10th assist of the season with the first helper while sophomore defenseman Nils Backstrom received the second assist.
UAA went 0-for-3 on the power play in the first, including getting shut down on a two-man advantage opportunity midway through the period, while Minnesota would go 1-for-3.
The Gophers controlled the play in the second frame, outshooting UAA 12-5, but Olthuis would turn back each shot and negate two Minnesota power-play chances keeping the Seawolves within one heading into the final period.
With just over six minutes remaining in regulation Selby would connect for his first-career goal on a dart from the center high slot, knotting the game for good at 2-2. Playing in just his fifth game of the season, Selby would corral a loose puck at mid-ice and skate in on a rush before letting loose a blistering wrister into net. Freshman Sean Wiles was credited with the assist, his third in four games.
The Seawolves began the overtime session with a full two-minute power play, but generated just one shot before it would expire. Each team attempted three shots on goal in overtime.
UAA, which was outshot 33-28, went scoreless in five attempts on the power play. Minnesota was 1-for-5 with the man advantage.
The Seawolves' eighth tie game of the season set a new single-season record for overall ties, breaking the previous mark of seven set during the 2002-03 campaign. Minnesota tied a school record with its ninth tie of the year.
UAA hosts Minnesota in its final home game of the season Saturday at 7:07 p.m. Five Seawolf seniors ? Luke Beaverson, Peter Cartwright, Chris Tarkir, Blair Tassone and Merit Waldrop ? will be honored on Senior Night at the Sully.
