Box Score OMAHA, Neb. – The University of Alaska was able to fend off elimination by defeating the University of Nebraska at Omaha 5-3 in the second game of their best-of-three Central Collegiate Hockey Association playoff series Saturday night at the Qwest Center Omaha.

UAF's victory forces the series into a third and final game. Face off for the deciding contest is set for 7:05 p.m. Sunday at the Qwest Center.

The Mavericks didn't get off to the kind of start that they had hoped for, as they found themselves skating two men down and without defenseman Eddie Del Grosso after he was slapped with a game misconduct just 2:52 into the game.

Alaska was able to pounce on the power-play chance, taking a 1-0 lead on Landon Novotney's goal at 7:43 of the first period.

The Mavs were able to knot the game, 1-1, when freshman defenseman Eric Olimb beat UAF goalkeeper, Wylie Rogers, at 15:41 of the opening frame. Sophomore JJ Koehler picked up the assist on the score.

But the Nanooks came right back, scoring at 18:31 to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.

The second period was all Alaska, as they were able to take advantage of Maverick penalties with a power-play goal at 4:03 and an even-strength score at 18:03 of the stanza, just five seconds after the Mavs returned to full strength, extending their lead to 4-1 after two periods of play.

UNO was able to claw its way back into the game in the third. Brandon Scero's power-play goal at 5:43 of the period was number 50 on the year for the Mavericks, tying the school record for power-play goals in a season, and cutting the deficit to two, while freshman Joey Martin's marker at 17:12 put the Mavs within striking distance at 4-3. Juniors Dan Charleston and Juha Uotila got the assists on Scero's score, and senior Mick Lawrence picked up the lone helper on Martin's goal.

But the Nanooks were able to shut the door on the Mavericks, putting in an empty-netter with just nine seconds left in regulation to make the final score 5-3.

First Period
1, UAF, Landon Novotney ( Dion Knelsen, Adam Naglich), pp, 7:43.
2, UNO, Eric Olimb (JJ Koehler), 15:41.
3, UAF, Ryan Hohl (Aaron Lee, Adam Naglich), pp, 18:31.
Second Period
4, UAF, Dion Knelsen (Landon Novotney, Adam Naglich), pp, 4:03.
5, UAF, Tyler Eckford (Landon Novotney), 18:03.
Third Period
6, UNO, Brandon Scero (Dan Charleston, Juha Uotila), pp, 5:43.
7, UNO, Joey Martin (Mick Lawrence), 17:12.
8, UAF, Derek Klassen (unassisted), en, 19:51.

Power Play: UNO 1-6; UAF 3-10
Penalties: UNO 11/33; 8/16
SOG: UNO 8-6-17—31; UAF 12-10-5--27
Saves: UNO, Jerad Kaufmann, 22; UAF, Wylie Rogers, 28
Attendance: 6,097