Alaska (Fairbanks) did it to Minnesota. Again.
One night after a 4-1 loss at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis, the visiting Nanooks upset the host Golden Gophers, ranked eighth in the nation, by a 3-2 count on Saturday evening in NCAA competition before over 8,000 spectators.
Following a 1-1 tie after 20 minutes, Brayden Nicholetts and Markus Komuls scored goals to stake Alaska to a 3-1 lead after two periods. Chaz Lucius made it 3-2 just 18 seconds into the final frame for Minnesota, but Alaska (6-15-1 overall) held on behind goaltender Gustavs Davis Grigals, who made 36 saves for the victory.
Minnesota (13-9-0) outshot Alaska, 36-16, but went 0-for-7 on the power play. The loss also snapped the Gophers' five-game win streak.
It's not the first time Alaska has upset the Gophers when the latter was ranked in the national top 10. In Oct. 2005, then-UAF edged host Minnesota, 4-3, in overtime, the first of three wins that season that the Nanooks registered over schools that were ranked No 1 at the time of play.
