The Alaska Airlines Governor’s Cup race continues to heat up, with the Nanooks and Seawolves set to face off in Fairbanks on Friday and Saturday for two meetings that could decide the series.
Through the first half of contests, the Seawolves lead 2-1 after taking two in a row against the Nanooks. It sets up the final stretch of games four, five and six at the Carlson Center, with Anchorage needing to win two of the final three to secure the trophy.
While the teams will play the matchups consecutively, only two will be played this weekend, as Friday and Saturday will play a pivotal, potentially decisive portion of the rivalry – both games are set for 7:07 p.m. start times.
The Seawolves have the easiest route, but Nanooks also have a straightforward path. For UAF, the simplest way is to win out the remaining contests to clinch a 4-2 series advantage after sweeping the Fairbanks portion.
However, should they take two of three, resulting in a 3-3 tie overall, the fate of the cup will be decided in a shootout.
Fairbanks’ pursuit of a 14th consecutive Governor’s Cup remains attainable, but this year’s path could be the most competitive in recent history.
The Nanooks have enjoyed sustained success over their in-state rivals, as Anchorage’s last time winning the series dates back to 2009. The last time a decisive shootout was required came in back-to-back years in 2014 and 2015.
This season, Fairbanks opened the series with a 3-2 overtime win. However, Anchorage responded with two of their own consecutively, coming by a score of 6-1 followed by a 3-3 shootout triumph, making it two of the first three games decided beyond regulation.
Going beyond 60 minutes has been a common theme for the ‘Nooks this season, as they have done so nine times in the regular season. They have gone 2-2-5 in games that surpassed three periods.
UAF enters the upcoming series in search of snapping their current two-game losing streak, and their first regulation win of the new year outside of an exhibition victory over Simon Fraser University. Their record stands at 7-11-5.
UAA has not played since their last meeting against Fairbanks on Jan. 18. This season, they hold a 5-17-4 overall record, with their best performances coming on the road. The Seawolves are 4-9-1 away from home, compared to a 1-7-3 mark on their own ice.
Matt Hubbarde rides a four-game scoring stretch for UAF, He has a total of eight goals, putting him second on the team behind Kyle Gaffney with six. As a unit, Fairbanks averages 2.1 goals per game on 25.3 shots per game.
Nine games remain for the Nanooks, with their next three against the Seawolves wrapping up play at home. Following Friday and Saturday, they’ll host their rivals for the final time on Feb. 8. From there, they remain on the road until March 1, where they close the season against Long Island University.