One Seawolves dream died Friday night and another was placed in peril.
UAF's 1-0 victory over UAA in Game 3 of the Governor's Cup not only eliminated the Seawolves from playoff consideration in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, but also slashed its lead in the four-game series for state superiority.
Sean Cahill's 22 saves, Fairbanks freshman Tayler Munson's first-period goal and precision penalty-killing propelled the Nanooks at Sullivan Arena. Their victory, which marked just the second 1-0 result in 155 games between the programs dating back to 1979, cut UAA's lead in the Cup series to 2-1 entering Saturday night's Game 4, the season finale for both teams.
UAA, which swept Games 1 and 2 of the Cup in Fairbanks in January, can seize the Cup for the first time since 2009 with a tie or victory Saturday. UAF must win the game and also capture a postgame shootout to continue its stranglehold on a chalice it has won on the ice each of the previous five seasons.
The teams share one bummer: Neither will play in the WCHA postseason. UAF (18-13-2, 13-12-2 WCHA) is barred from it because of NCAA violations in previous seasons. UAA's playoff possibilities remained alive entering the game because both Alabama-Huntsville and Lake Superior State of Michigan lost earlier Friday. But UAA (8-21-4, 5-20-2 WCHA) trails those teams by three points and has just two points left available to it, so, dream dashed, and it is locked into a last-place finish in the 10-team league.
Still, the Seawolves can capture the Cup on Saturday. UAF had to vacate three of its current five consecutive Cups -- in 2010, 2011 and 2012 -- as part of NCAA sanctions leveled against it.
"It's a whole lot to digest,'' said UAA senior defenseman Austin Coldwell, facing his last game. "You think, (Saturday) it's over. But you still have something to play for -- the Alaska championship, so to speak. It gives you drive.''
Ditto for the Nanooks, who early this season learned they were barred from postseason play, but have nonetheless delivered an excellent campaign. They sit fifth in the league and are unbeaten in their last seven games (6-0-1).
"Once we heard (the NCAA sanctions), we put it in one ear and out the other,'' said Cahill, a senior. "There's nothing you can do about it. No reason to waste a season.''
Cahill racked his second shutout this season and the third of his career by expertly controlling his rebounds. He also benefitted from superb penalty-killing. The Nanooks burned all six Seawolves power plays, including a five-minute man advantage that stemmed from Shawn Hochhausen's major penalty for checking from behind against Tad Kozun in the final minute of the second period.
The Nanooks permitted the Seawolves just one shot on goal during that major, and even that came in the waning seconds. UAA enjoyed 13:51 of power-play time, but mustered just seven shots in that span on a night it was outshot 24-22.
"Sacrificing the body, working together as a unit,'' explained UAF junior defenseman Colton Parayko. "Just a team effort.''
The Seawolves were frustrated by their inability to consistently threaten with the man advantage and helped inflict their sixth shutout loss this season.
"It's just execution -- that's what it comes down to,'' Coldwell said. "Credit to them, but we also had a couple trips to the crease where we hoped the hockey gods would help us.''
UAA, coming off a 6-1 victory over then-No. 11-ranked Bowling Green in which it scored two power-play goals, was continually stymied entering the UAF zone. On the occasions it did gain entry, the Nanooks blocked shots and got their sticks in passing lanes.
"One thing hurt us tonight -- our power play,'' said UAA coach Matt Thomas. "We couldn't make that one little play we made last weekend.''
Friday marked the sixth consecutive UAF-UAA game, dating back to last season, decided by one goal.
The difference stemmed from Munson, who snapped his 12-game goal drought with about six minutes left in the first period.
After Peter Krieger fanned on a shot along the goal line to the left of UAA goalie Olivier Mantha (23 saves), he regained control of the puck and fired a sharply angled shot that ricocheted into the crease, where Munson chipped it home.
Cahill and crew made that goal stand.
And now the teams face a season finale with bragging rights, and the Cup, at stake.
"For our seniors, it gives them something to go out with a bang,'' Parayko said.
And for the Seawolves, Saturday presents a chance to raise the elusive chalice.
"I'm just happy we still have a lot to focus on and play for,'' Thomas said.
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockey-blog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr