UAA's recent sweep of UAF delivered the Seawolves myriad benefits -- they knocked off their rival on the rival's home ice, seized four critical points in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, won on the road for the first time this season, and struck first in the four-game Governor's Cup season series.
One downside: All the momentum UAA generated two weeks ago -- and, remember the Seawolves entered that series on a six-game winless streak -- was immediately halted. The Seawolves were idle last week.
UAA gears back up this week with a league series at Northern Michigan University that opens a four-game road trip that also takes the Seawolves to league-leading Minnesota State-Mankato.
Despite the sweep of the Nanooks, the Seawolves remain in last place in the 10-team WCHA, two points behind Alabama-Huntsville and Lake Superior State of Michigan, which are tied for eighth.
The top eight finishers qualify for the WCHA playoffs, though a top-nine finish will suffice this season because current sixth-place UAF is prohibited from the postseason in March due to NCAA violations in previous seasons.
One advantage UAA holds over both Alabama-Huntsville and Lake Superior State is games in hand. The Seawolves have 12 league games left compared to 10 for Alabama-Huntsville and eight for Lake Superior State.
A disadvantage for the Seawolves, though, is that their remaining league schedule appears more difficult than those of Alabama-Huntsville and Lake Superior State.
The Seawolves still have road series against first-place Minnesota State-Mankato, fourth-place Northern Michigan and seventh-place Bemidji State of Minnesota, which is three points ahead of them. Their remaining home series match them against second-place Michigan Tech, third-place Bowling Green and sixth-place UAF.
Scoring goals continues to be a challenge for UAA, which beat UAF 2-1 and 3-2 in overtime. The Seawolves' average of 2.18 goals per game ranks just 49th among 59 Division I teams.
But they have been able to lean on freshman goaltender Olivier Mantha, who stopped 80 of 83 shots against the Nanooks and has furnished a .928 save percentage this season.
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockey-blog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr
UAA
7-11-4, 4-10-2 WCHA
at
NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
9-9-6, 6-8-4 WCHA
Friday, Saturday, 3:07 p.m. AST
Radio: Live, AM-650 KENI