FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A back-and-forth scoreless battle collapsed late in the third period as No. 18 Arizona State hockey (20-7-6) fell, 3-1, to Alaska Fairbanks (14-13-2) on Friday night at Carlson Center. All goals for both teams were scored in the final frame.
Brandon Tabakin scored the game-tying goal, 1-1, with only four minutes remaining in regulation. Two minutes later, he took a five-minute major for hitting from behind and the Nanooks tallied two power play goals within 40 seconds to secure the victory.
With under 30 seconds remaining, a tussle on the boards and center ice fight forced the officials to call the game with 11 seconds left on the clock.
Gibson Homer made his fourth consecutive start and tallied 29 saves.
ASU looks to attain the series split tomorrow, Saturday Feb. 24 at 9:07 p.m. MST. Tune in on Sun Devil Radio Network on Fox Sports 910 and the iHeart radio app. The stream of the game is available for purchase through FloHockey.
GAME BREAKDOWN
First Period
ASU saw the first power play opportunity of the game at 5:56 in the opening period with a cross-checking call on the Nanooks. The advantage lasted only seven seconds before ASU's Ty Jackson was assessed a penalty for interference. Four-on-four play ensued, but neither team could convert. At the halfway point, UAF took another cross-checking call, but again, ASU couldn't fire through the Nanooks. The Sun Devils outshot the Nanooks 13-to-9 through the first 20 minutes.
Second Period
UAF had its second power play chance a little over three minutes into the frame following an interference call on Matthew Kopperud. The ASU penalty kill unit stifled UAF to only one shot which was blocked by ASU defenseman Brandon Tabakin. At 7:29, Ty Murchison was called for cross-checking, but 90 seconds into the kill UAF committed its third penalty, giving ASU yet another chance on the power play. Both teams went 0-for-3 on the power play through the first two periods.
Third Period
Three minutes into the period, the fourth cross-checking call of the night was given to the Nanooks. UAF killed the power play chance and scored the first goal of the game 30 seconds later. Three different penalties, one for UAF and two for ASU, ensued but through the chaos, neither team capitalized. At 16:48 Brandon Tabakin scored the game-tying goal with assists from Benji Eckerle and Ryan O'Reilly. The momentum didn't last long as just two minutes later Tabakin was assessed a five-minute major for hitting from behind. The Nanooks scored two power play goals within 40 seconds to ultimately secure the 3-1 win.
Following a faceoff in ASU's zone with 16 seconds left, ASU and UAF players immediately tangled in a tussle along the boards. The extracurriculars reignited tensions between players from both teams already in the box and a center ice one-on-one fight resulted after officials failed to keep players in the box from getting in on the action. Officials made the decision to call the game with 11 seconds remaining in regulation.
Brandon Tabakin scored the game-tying goal, 1-1, with only four minutes remaining in regulation. Two minutes later, he took a five-minute major for hitting from behind and the Nanooks tallied two power play goals within 40 seconds to secure the victory.
With under 30 seconds remaining, a tussle on the boards and center ice fight forced the officials to call the game with 11 seconds left on the clock.
Gibson Homer made his fourth consecutive start and tallied 29 saves.
ASU looks to attain the series split tomorrow, Saturday Feb. 24 at 9:07 p.m. MST. Tune in on Sun Devil Radio Network on Fox Sports 910 and the iHeart radio app. The stream of the game is available for purchase through FloHockey.
GAME BREAKDOWN
First Period
ASU saw the first power play opportunity of the game at 5:56 in the opening period with a cross-checking call on the Nanooks. The advantage lasted only seven seconds before ASU's Ty Jackson was assessed a penalty for interference. Four-on-four play ensued, but neither team could convert. At the halfway point, UAF took another cross-checking call, but again, ASU couldn't fire through the Nanooks. The Sun Devils outshot the Nanooks 13-to-9 through the first 20 minutes.
Second Period
UAF had its second power play chance a little over three minutes into the frame following an interference call on Matthew Kopperud. The ASU penalty kill unit stifled UAF to only one shot which was blocked by ASU defenseman Brandon Tabakin. At 7:29, Ty Murchison was called for cross-checking, but 90 seconds into the kill UAF committed its third penalty, giving ASU yet another chance on the power play. Both teams went 0-for-3 on the power play through the first two periods.
Third Period
Three minutes into the period, the fourth cross-checking call of the night was given to the Nanooks. UAF killed the power play chance and scored the first goal of the game 30 seconds later. Three different penalties, one for UAF and two for ASU, ensued but through the chaos, neither team capitalized. At 16:48 Brandon Tabakin scored the game-tying goal with assists from Benji Eckerle and Ryan O'Reilly. The momentum didn't last long as just two minutes later Tabakin was assessed a five-minute major for hitting from behind. The Nanooks scored two power play goals within 40 seconds to ultimately secure the 3-1 win.
Following a faceoff in ASU's zone with 16 seconds left, ASU and UAF players immediately tangled in a tussle along the boards. The extracurriculars reignited tensions between players from both teams already in the box and a center ice one-on-one fight resulted after officials failed to keep players in the box from getting in on the action. Officials made the decision to call the game with 11 seconds remaining in regulation.