MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin moved one step closer to earning a trip to the 2010 WCHA Final Five by downing Alaska Anchorage 4-1 in game 1 of the team's WCHA first round playoff series Friday night at the Kohl Center in front of 11,225 spectators.

Junior forward Craig Parkinson claimed UAA's lone tally of the night with 46.3 seconds remaining in the game, but the No.9-seeded Seawolves (11-22-2) couldn't keep pace with the No.3-ranked Badgers (23-9-4), as UAA fell to 4-34 in the all-time WCHA first round.

After 18 minutes of a scoreless game, the Badgers grabbed the momentum with an even-strength goal by Michael Davies with 1:50 remaining in the opening stanza.

Within just 47 seconds expired on the clock in the second, Aaron Bendickson poked at a puck left in front of senior goaltender Jon Olthuis (25 saves), for a 2-0 lead. The Badgers added more cushion with a shorthanded strike at 12:03 by Jake Gardiner and an even-strength tally by Craig Smith at 16:03.

Parkinson picked up the rebound off a shot fired by junior forward Tommy Grant, earning him his first career goal of the post season. Senior defenseman Nils Backstrom also registered a helper on the play.

The Seawolves were edged overall in shots, 29-28, but outshout the Badgers, 12-7 in the third frame. Both teams were held scoreless on the man advantage, with UAA going 0-for-4 and UW getting shutout on eight attempts.

The Badger's netminder, Scott Gudmandson made 27, improving his record to 15-3-4 with the victory.

The Seawolves will try to fend off elimination in game 2 of the best-of-three series Saturday at 4:07 p.m. AST.