Well, the Seawolves on Thursday night snapped that unsightly goal drought by their forwards at 277 minutes, 9 seconds, the equivalent of more than four and a half games.
Otherwise, their Western Collegiate Hockey Association "game" at Ferris State proved something of a clusterpuck.
Call it The Massacre in Michigan or The Blowout in Big Rapids: Ferris State 10, UAA 2.
Only Zack Rassell's goal deep into the third period kept the Seawolves from matching their most lopsided defeat in 22 seasons of WCHA play. UAA on three occasions has been outgunned by nine goals in a WCHA game.
As it was, the 10 goals surrendered marked just the third time in those 22 WCHA seasons that a UAA opponent reached double-digit goals.
And the eight-goal spread was easily the largest in current coach Matt Thomas' two seasons. Also, the loss was UAA's fourth straight, its longest skid under Thomas, the former ECHL head coach who called it the ugliest loss of his coaching career.
Consider too that Ferris State (5-5-0, 2-3-0 WCHA) had scored just 11 goals in its previous nine games this season. Also consider that UAA (4-5-2, 1-4-0 WCHA) had not allowed an opponent more than three goals in a game this season. Yet, in the opener of a series that wraps Friday night, the Seawolves were the cure for what ailed the Bulldogs.
"We were just terrible,'' Thomas said by cellphone from Ewigleben Arena. "But you know what? This is rock bottom, and it's really about how you respond.
"If anything we'll see what type of group we are and what kind of response we have.''
The Seawolves surrendered six second-period goals. They committed two major penalties – Chase Van Allen got the gate in the second period for checking from behind and Tanner Johnson followed just 57 seconds later for contact to the head. That gives UAA six major penalties in 11 games.
The Seawolves gave up two power-play goals to the Bulldogs, who entered having been fruitless on 38 consecutive power plays dating back to their season opener.
And they didn't do much to aid goaltenders Olivier Mantha and Michael Matyas. Mantha got the second-period hook after giving up four goals on 20 shots. Matyas did not fare any better, surrendering six goals on 20 shots.
UAA trailed 2-1 after one period, not an ideal situation, but not terribly troubling either, considering Ferris State received both power plays granted in the opening 20 minutes. Blake Tatchell's first-period deflection goal halted the long goal drought from UAA's forwards.
But things soon veered out of control for the Seawolves.
"Boom, they score. Boom, they score,'' Thomas said. "All of a sudden, it's 3-1 and we're changing goalies. I don't want to say the guys gave up, but we're fragile right now.''
Chad McDonald scored two goals and added two assists for Ferris State, Gerald Mayhew added two goals and a helper, seven different Bulldogs scored multiple points and 14 of their 18 skaters furnished at least one point. The Bulldogs cruised so easily they pulled workhorse senior goaltender C.J. Motte midway through the third period, which afforded sophomore Trace Pennock his first college playing time.
Nothing else for the Seawolves to do in Friday's series finale, Thomas said, except labor their way out of their doldrums.
"Grab your hard hat, grab your shovel and get to work,'' he said.
Seawolves notes
The Seawolves have committed six major penalties, with Johnson and sophomore winger Dylan Hubbs sentenced for two each.
UAA is 0-3-0 on its two-week WCHA road trip, which included a pair of losses at Michigan Tech last week.
WCHA road games were a problem for the team last season, when it went 3-9-2 in regular-season roadies. UAA is 0-3-0 in WCHA road games this season and 0-4-1 in true road games overall.
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockey-blog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr
UAA 1 0 1 2
Ferris State 2 6 2 10
First Period – 1, Ferris State, McDonald 4 (Schempp), 11:04; 2, UAA, Tatchell 2 (Van Allen, Allen), 12:08; 3, Ferris State, VanWormer 2 (McDonald, Robertson), 16:29 (pp). Penalties – Tatchell, UAA (slashing), 5:59; Cameron, UAA (hooking), 14:43.
Second Period – 4, Ferris State, Robertson 3 (McDonald, Mayhew), 1:09; 5, Ferris State, Andrew 1 (Panetta, Binkley), 3:42; 6, Ferris State, Buzzeo 2 (McDonald), 8:20; 7, Ferris State, Binkley 1 (Buzzeo), 15:02; 8, Ferris State, Mayhew 2, 15:19; 9, Ferris State, McDonald 5 (Robertson, Lowney), 18:30 (pp). Penalties – Friesen, UAA (boarding), 4:58; Mayhew, Ferris State (interference), 5:39; Kozun, UAA (tripping), 6:17; Andrew, Ferris State (roughing), 12:53; Hubbs, UAA (roughing), 12:53; Van Allen, UAA, major-game misconduct (checking from behind), 13:44; Mayer, Ferris State (slashing the goalie), 13:52; Mayhew, Ferris State (roughing), 15:41; Johnson, UAA, major-game misconduct (contact to the head), 15:41; White, Ferris State, minor-misconduct (roughing), 15:41; Anholt, UAA (misconduct), 15:41.
Third Period – 10, Ferris State, Dorer 1 (Maloney, Andrew), 1:48; 11, Ferris State, Mayhew 3 (O'Rourke, Maloney), 7:34; 12, UAA, Rassell 1 (Azurdia, Trupp), 13:07. Penalties – Mayer, Ferris State (interference), 2:01; Dorer, Ferris State (interference), 8:02; Babinksi, Ferris State (slashing), 14:22.
Shots on goal – UAA 6-4-10—20. Ferris State 13-17-10—40.
Power-play Opportunities – UAA 0 of 3. Ferris State 2 of 8.
Goalies – UAA, Mantha, 3-3-1 (20 shots-16 saves); Matyas, enter 5:54 2nd period (20-14). Ferris State, Motte, 5-5-0 (15 shots-14 saves); Pennock, enter 10:35 3rd period (5-4).
A – 1,811. T – 2:33.
Referees – Dan Kovacs, Jerome Moen. Assistant referees – Bruce Vida, Jamie Grace.