Author Archives: Michael Napier

Chargers shut out by Falcons in home finale

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The Chargers could not ride Friday’s playoff-clinching victory into success on Senior Night on Saturday.

Fifteenth-ranked Bowling Green shut down the Chargers 3-0 on Saturday in the regular-season finale at the Von Braun Center, splitting the series.

BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY

UAH (11-21-2 overall, 10-16-2 WCHA), which secured its spot in the WCHA playoffs Friday with a 3-2 win, will find out its seeding and quarterfinals destination late tonight when the rest of the conference slate plays out.

The Chargers came into Saturday as the sixth seed, but they will need help to stay there. UAH could fall to either seventh or eighth depending on what happens between Ferris State and Lake Superior State, and Alaska and Alaska Anchorage.

The result was a sour sendoff to UAH’s seniors, who played their game inside Propst Arena.

Bowling Green (20-10-6 overall, 17-6-5 WCHA) had already locked down the third seed, and they could host the Chargers if UAH holds on to the sixth seed.

The Falcons scored a pair of goals in the first period. Connor Ford tallied the first goal at 9:49, and Brett D’Andrea put one past Uhelski from the slot at 15:35.

Bowling Green took a 3-0 lead just 55 seconds into the second period, as Mitch McLain put the puck through Uhelski’s five-hole on the power play.

UAH’s best chance came with a 2-man advantage after back-to-back penalties by the Falcons. But the Chargers, who were able to tie Friday’s game in this situation in the third period, would come up empty this time.

Ryan Bednard stopped all 23 UAH shots for his second shutout of the season.

Uhelski finished with 28 saves.

 

Chargers stun BGSU 3-2 to clinch playoff berth

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Forget relying on others, the Chargers took care of business at home, and they are back in the WCHA playoffs.

Austin Beaulieu’s goal with 1:18 remaining lifted UAH to a 3-2 win over 15th-ranked Bowling Green on Friday, securing a postseason berth for the Chargers for the first time in three years.

BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY

UAH (11-20-2 overall, 10-15-2 WCHA) will finish the regular season Saturday at 3 p.m. for Senior Night. Then the Chargers will know their seeding and where they will head for the best-of-3 WCHA quarterfinals next weekend.

The Chargers have 33 points, in sixth place. Alaska could tie them with a win against Alaska Anchorage late. Ferris State defeated Lake Superior 4-1 to move provisionally into seventh with 31 points, leaving Lake Superior out of the top eight.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzkJNJv8M3Q[/embedyt]

 

Bowling Green (19-10-6 overall, 16-6-5 WCHA), which had won seven of its last eight games, secured the third seed.

The Chargers withstood another frantic attack from the Falcons, who held a 32-23 shots on goal advantage. UAH got another great performance from goaltender Jordan Uhelski, who made 30 saves — the sixth time in the last seven games that he has stopped 30 or more shots.

There was no scoring in the first period, but Bowling Green had more scoring chances. The Falcons were dominant in the faceoff circle, winning 16 of 19, and had more shot attempts, 19-13, but UAH had more shots on goal, 9-5, at the first intermission.

The Chargers had a five-minute power play near the end of the first period after BG’s Brett D’Andrea hit John Teets hard in front of the UAH bench. D’Andrea was assessed a major checking from behind penalty with a game misconduct with 28 seconds left.

UAH capitalized on the power play early in the second. Falcon goaltender Ryan Bednard (20 saves) was caught behind his net, and the Chargers took advantage with a steal. Austin Beaulieu sent it to Max McHugh, who scored his second goal of the season at the 3:21 mark.

Bowling Green was able to snatch the lead away from UAH with two power play goals on four Charger penalties in the second period.

The first one followed a McHugh holding penalty, with Mitch McLain powering one from the right circle to tie the game at 1-1 with 9:47 left.

UAH withstood a five-minute boarding major on Beaulieu, but couldn’t on a Cody Champagne hooking minor late in the frame. Alec Rauhauser’s blast from inside the blue line made its way through traffic and past UAH goalie Jordan Uhelski to give Bowling Green its first lead at 2-1 with 1:27 remaining.

The Chargers tied the game at 2-2 with another power play goal of their own, this time converting on a 5-on-3 advantage after back-to-back penalties by the Falcons.

Josh Kestner scored his 21st goal of the season, one-timing a cross-ice pass by Brennan Saulnier, with 12:26 to go in regulation. Saulnier, back in action after being suspended for four games, got his seventh assist, and Tyler Poulsen notched his team-leading 15th assist.

Then came Beaulieu’s game winner, his third goal of the year, which came on a deflection in front of Bednard from a Christian Rajic shot. Champagne was also credited with a helper.

Preview: UAH vs. #15 Bowling Green

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Where: Propst Arena, Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Ala.
When: Friday, 6:07 p.m.; Saturday, 3:07 p.m.
Watch: WCHA.tv
Team stats: UAH | Bowling Green

Kurt Gosselin

Kurt Gosselin, who can throw a solid hip check, now has 16 career goals at UAH. (Photo by Todd Thompson/RiverCat Photography)

Charger update: UAH (10-20-2 overall, 9-15-2 WCHA) was off last week, but despite that and being swept by Minnesota State two weeks ago, the Chargers remain in sixth place in the WCHA standings (albeit now tied with Alaska).

In this final week of the regular season against Bowling Green, the Chargers need at least two points (or otherwise get help elsewhere) to qualify for the WCHA playoffs.

Against Minnesota State, which was ranked fifth in the USCHO poll at the time, UAH nearly pulled off an upset in the first game. Kurt Gosselin and Christian Rajic scored two quick goals early in the second period to take a 2-1 lead, but MSU rallied with a goal with 2:10 left in regulation and another 27 seconds into overtime to win. The Mavericks rolled 6-1 in the second game.

Josh Kestner had an assist in the first game to raise his point total to 27 for the season. He’s tied for the WCHA lead with Minnesota State’s C.J. Seuss with 18 goals in conference play and 20 goals overall.

Kestner will be one of eight players who will be finishing their UAH careers this season. They will be honored before Sunday’s home finale.

Brennan Saulnier can return to action after being suspended for four games.

Players to watch:
Josh Kestner (Sr., F, 20 goals-7 assists-27 points in 32 games played)
Tyler Poulsen (Jr., F, 9-14-23 in 30 GP)
Christian Rajic (Fr., F, 9-6-15 in 32 GP)
Kurt Gosselin (Jr., D, 5-10-15 in 32 GP)
Jordan Uhelski (Sr., G, 2.95 goals against average, .910 save percentage in 27 starts)

About the Falcons: Bowling Green (19-9-6 overall, 16-5-5 WCHA) comes to Huntsville winners of seven of its last eight games, including a sweep at Alaska Anchorage last week. The Falcons, sitting in third place in the WCHA standings three points behind Northern Michigan, have clinched home ice in the WCHA quarterfinals.

Three of the top six scorers for the Falcons are freshmen. Max Johnson has scored a goal in six of the last nine games. Brandon Kruse had two assists in the series against UAH at BG back in December.

Alec Rauhauser is second in the nation among defensemen in points per game with 0.97.

Mitchell McLain has 14 points in his last 13 games.

Players to watch:
Alec Rauhauser (So., D, 7-26-33 in 34 GP)
Mitchell McLain (Sr., F, 14-11-25 in 34 GP)
Brandon Kruse (Fr., F, 6-23-29 in 34 GP)
Max Johnson (Fr., F, 10-15-25 in 34 GP)
Adam Smith (Jr., D, 1-3-4 in 34 GP, Nashville Predators prospect)
Ryan Bednard (So., G, 2.32 GAA, .910 SV%, 1 SHO in 20 starts, Florida Panthers prospect)

UAH Tale of the tape
(per game averages)		 Bowling Green
10-20-2 Overall record 19-9-6
9-15-2 WCHA record 16-5-5
2.54 (7th) Goals/game 3.15 (2nd)
3.12 (7th) Goals allowed/game 2.31 (T-3rd)
15.7 (3rd) Penalty minutes 17.0 (2nd)
16.4% (6th) Power play 19.5% (4th)
81.2% (7th) Penalty kill 84.3% (4th)
WCHA rank in parentheses, conference games only

 

Series notes: Bowling Green leads the all-time series 22-2-4, and is 9-3-0 in Huntsville. The Falcons are 6-0-1 in the last seven meetings, with the last UAH win being a 7-5 decision on March 4, 2016. Back on Dec. 9 in Ohio, UAH tied Bowling Green 3-3 (UAH earning the extra WCHA point in the shootout) and lost 3-1.

Promotions: On Friday, the first 500 fans get a free UAH Hockey trading card set courtesy of Colonial Printing.

Free general admission for kids 12 and under is available to all home games, courtesy of Huntsville International Airport.

This week in the WCHA: All times are Central. Games featuring WCHA teams at home can be seen on WCHA.tv.

Friday, Feb. 23
#15 Bowling Green at UAH, 6:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Michigan Tech at #16 Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at #4 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Alaska Anchorage at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 24
#15 Bowling Green at UAH, 3:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
#16 Northern Michigan at Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at #4 Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Alaska Anchorage at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.

Eight Chargers to be honored at Senior Night

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Eight will be playing their final games at the Von Braun Center as UAH Chargers this weekend. They will be honored before Saturday afternoon’s home finale for Senior Night against Bowling Green.

Richard Buri
Richard Buri (Nitra, Slovakia) has six goals and eight assists for 14 points in 101 games as a defenseman. Buri has a career-best 39 blocks this season for a total 134 in his career.  Buri made the WCHA all-academic team in 2015-16 and was a WCHA scholar-athlete in 2016-17.

Cody Champagne
Cody Champagne (Brookfield, Conn.) has played 128 games as a defenseman. He has two goals and seven assists in his UAH career. Champagne leads this year’s team with 53 blocked shots, with a four-year total of 155. Champagne made the WCHA all-academic team in 2015-16 and was a WCHA scholar athlete in 2016-17.

Josh Kestner
Josh Kestner (Huntsville, Ala.) has 40 career goals at UAH, the sixth most in the Chargers’ modern Division I era. Twenty of those have come this season, the most in 13 years, to lead the WCHA. Kestner, an alternate captain, leads UAH in goals and points for the second straight season. Kestner made the WCHA all-academic team in 2015-16 and was a WCHA scholar-athlete in 2016-17.


Captain Max McHugh (Edgewood, Wash.) has 28 goals and 39 assists for 67 points in his UAH career. McHugh led the Chargers in scoring in his freshmen and sophomore years with 23 and 22 points, respectively. McHugh made the all-WCHA rookie team in 2014-15, when he set the UAH modern Division I record for goals by a freshman with a team-leading 12. McHugh is a three-time WCHA scholar athlete.


Brandon Parker (Faribault, Minn.) has played 134 games at UAH, fifth all-time. The defenseman has nine goals and 40 assists for 49 career points. This season, the alternate captain has six assists. Parker has blocked a total of 213 shots. He is a three-time WCHA scholar-athlete.

Tyler Poulsen
Tyler Poulsen (Arvada, Colo.) is a junior who will be finishing his eligibility with a breakout season, tallying 14 assists (leading the team) and 23 points (second on the team). Poulsen has career totals of 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points in 83 games played.


Brennan Saulnier (Halifax, Nova Scotia) has 21 goals and 34 assists for 55 points in four years at UAH, including a career-best eight goals this season. He was named the WCHA offensive player of the month for October 2015 for scoring six goals in five games. Saulnier has 325 penalty minutes, fifth all-time at UAH.

Jordan Uhelski
Jordan Uhelski (Flint, Mich.) has become one of the WCHA’s top goaltenders this season. Taking over the No. 1 job in his junior year, Uhelski has a goals against average of 2.88 (fifth all-time at UAH, second in the modern Division I era) and a .909 save percentage (fifth all-time and third in the D-I era) in 50 games played. Uhelski made the WCHA all-academic team in 2015-16 and was a WCHA scholar-athlete in 2016-17.

Individual photos by Todd Thompson/RiverCat Photography. Seniors photo by Doug Eagan/UAH Athletics.

Thomas goes to Washington: UAH assistant coach Matty Thomas will become the new hockey director and under-18 coach of the Washington Little Capitals, the youth club announced on Friday.

Thomas has spent the last five seasons as an assistant to head coach Mike Corbett and the Chargers, coaching defensemen and penalty kill units.

Blue Line Club luncheon: The last Blue Line Club luncheon of the season will be this Friday at noon in the Varsity Room at Spragins Hall. Several UAH seniors and coach Mike Corbett will discuss this weekend’s final home series against Bowling Green. Terranova’s will be catering.

Playoff watch: Win would secure berth for UAH

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Charger celebration

Photo by Todd Thompson/RiverCat Photography

A win and they’re in. That’s what the Chargers can do to clinch a playoff spot this weekend when they host Bowling Green at the Von Braun Center.

Here’s what we know about the WCHA playoff picture heading into the final week of the regular season:

  • Minnesota State needs just one point against Bemidji State to win the MacNaughton Cup as regular season champion and take the No. 1 seed.
  • Northern Michigan and Bowling Green will also host quarterfinal series.
  • The 4-5 matchup is set: Bemidji State will host Michigan Tech in the quarterfinals.

That leaves playoff spots six through eight up for grabs. For more detail on all the WCHA races, including probabilities, check out The WCHA Playoff Prediction Blog.

Pts Record 3/SO^ Final week
6 UAH 30 9-15-2 1 H vs BGSU
6 Alaska 30 9-15-2 1 H vs UAA
8 Ferris State 28 9-16-1 0 H vs LSSU
9 Lake Superior 27 8-15-3 0 A vs FSU

^ 3-on-3/shootout points after ties.

The Chargers are fighting Alaska, Ferris State, and Lake Superior State for the three remaining playoff spots. UAH and Alaska are tied for 6th with 30 points, Ferris State is in 8th with 28 points, and Lake Superior State is currently on the outside looking in with 27 points.

UAH only needs to finish ahead of one of those teams to make the playoffs.

Alaska hosts rival Alaska Anchorage, which is in 10th and eliminated from contention. Lake Superior State goes to Ferris State.

That LSSU and FSU play each other is important. If either team sweeps the other, the swept team can’t catch UAH, no matter what the Chargers do against Bowling Green.

If Ferris State and Lake Superior State split and UAH doesn’t get any points, then the Chargers are eliminated. FSU would have more points (31 to 30), and LSSU (who would tie UAH at 30 points) would win the “C” tiebreaker for having fewer conference losses (16 to 17).

But if UAH gets two points or more, it would be impossible for both FSU and LSSU to surpass the Chargers.

In summary, the Chargers are in if:

  • UAH gets two points or more against Bowling Green OR
  • Ferris State gets four points or more against Lake Superior OR
  • Lake Superior gets four points or more against Ferris State.

Or in even simpler terms: UAH gets a win, or Lake Superior and Ferris State do not split.

What about Alaska? Currently the Nanooks have the exact same conference record and points as the Chargers, and Alaska and UAH split the only two games played head-to-head. Alaska is thus in a similar situation: Lance West’s club needs only two points to secure a playoff berth, which is likely against Alaska Anchorage. Alaska has already beaten its hated rival four times (two conference and two non-conference) by a combined score of 19-8.

If the Chargers and Nanooks remain tied after the final games are played, Alaska would likely surpass UAH all the way at the “E” tiebreaker, which is points percentage against each WCHA team starting at the top. Alaska has a win over first-place Minnesota State, and UAH went 0-4 against MSU.

It should be an exciting final weekend in the WCHA, which, because not all teams make the conference tournament, sets itself apart from the other leagues in Division I.

WCHA final regular-season week schedule (all time Central):

Friday, Feb. 23
Bowling Green at UAH, 6:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Michigan Tech at Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Alaska Anchorage at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 24
Bowling Green at UAH, 3:07 p.m.
Lake Superior State at Ferris State, 6:07 p.m.
Northern Michigan at Michigan Tech, 6:07 p.m.
Bemidji State at Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Alaska Anchorage at Alaska, 10:07 p.m.

Playoff watch: UAH still 6th heading into bye week

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Josh Kestner battles with Minnesota State’s Daniel Brickley. (Photo by Todd Thompson/RiverCat Photography)

The Chargers have more work to do to get into the WCHA playoffs, but for now, all we can do is watch.

Despite being swept by Minnesota State this weekend, UAH remains in sixth place in the league standings as Alaska was also swept by Northern Michigan and Ferris State was idle.

The top eight make the conference playoffs, with the top four hosting best-of-3 quarterfinal series.p

UAH is off next weekend. The Chargers host Bowling Green on Feb. 23-24 to finish the regular season, looking to get back into the WCHA playoffs for the first time since 2015.

Here’s what we know about the WCHA playoff picture with two weeks left in the regular season:

  • Northern Michigan, Minnesota State, and Bowling Green have clinched home-ice in the first round. One of these three will hoist the MacNaughton Cup as regular season champion.
  • Bemidji State and Michigan Tech have clinched playoff berths. These two are battling to have home-ice in the first round.
  • UAH, Alaska, Ferris State, and Lake Superior State are battling for the last three playoff spots.
  • Alaska Anchorage is eliminated from playoff contention.

Our focus is on the Chargers, so let’s see what’s left for them and the three teams they are jostling with:

Pts Record 3/SO^ Next week Final week
6 UAH 30 9-15-2 1 Idle H vs BGSU
7 Alaska 29 9-14-1 1 A vs BSU H vs UAA
8 Ferris State 28 9-14-1 0 A vs MSU H vs LSSU
9 Lake Superior 27 8-15-3 0 Idle A vs FSU

^ 3-on-3/shootout points after ties.

During the Chargers’ off week, UAH fans should root for Bemidji State (I know, I know) over Alaska and Minnesota State over Ferris State. We don’t know what UAH needs to stay ahead of Alaska and Ferris State until those series are played.

However, we have more certainty with Lake Superior State also idle this week. We only need UAH to finish ahead of one of these teams, and with UAH and LSSU only having two games left, we know that UAH gets in with these scenarios:

  • UAH gets at least four points against Bowling Green.
  • Ferris State gets at least four points against Lake Superior.

There’s a chance UAH gets in with only three points against Bowling Green, but both games would have to be ties AND Lake Superior cannot sweep Ferris State.

UAH falls hard against No. 5 MSU

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Minnesota State, the fifth-ranked team in the country, breathed a sign of relief after needing overtime to beat UAH on Friday and avoid a major upset.

Saturday night, the Mavericks made sure there would not be another scare at the VBC, beating the Chargers 6-1 to complete the series sweep and win their seventh straight game.

BOX SCORE

UAH (10-20-2 overall, 9-15-2 WCHA) was swept at home for the first time this season, but still sits in sixth place in the WCHA standings, one point ahead of Alaska. Alaska was swept by Northern Michigan, which maintained its one-point lead over Minnesota State (23-7-0 overall, 19-5-0 WCHA) atop the standings.

The Chargers, still looking to secure a WCHA playoff spot, have next week off before finishing the regular season at home against Bowling Green.

Minnesota State scored its first goal at the 3:57 mark, when Nicolas Rivera poked in a rebound from a Brad McClure shot.

Then with 3:39 left in the first period, on a power play resulting from a John Teets cross-checking penalty, the Mavericks made it 2-0 when Dallas Gerads scored, also on a rebound.

UAH got on the board early in the second period, shorthanded after a Brandon Parker interference penalty.

Levi Wunder got a shot in the MSU zone, and the rebound off of Connor LeCouvee slowly entered the slot. Defenseman Richard Buri won the race for the puck, and sniped it past LeCouvee at 1:01.

It was Buri’s first goal of the season and sixth goal of the senior’s UAH career. Wunder got his seventh assist.

But the Mavericks never relented, and regained their two-goal advantage just 1:44 later. Right after Parker’s penalty expired, C.J. Seuss, who scored the overtime winner on Friday, scored on a backhander from goaltender Jordan Uhelski’s doorstep made it 3-1.

Minnesota State made it 4-1 on its second power play goal of the night. Marc Michaelis, who got the game-tying goal with 2:10 left in regulation on Friday, got the score on yet another rebound off Uhelski.

MSU scored their third power play goal at 1:30 of the third period on a blast by Daniel Brickley from the point. Jared Spooner made it 6-1 with 10:32 to go.

Uhelski finished with 29 saves after being pulled at that point. Freshman Mark Sinclair had one save in relief.

Minnesota State outshot UAH 36-24.

Notes: Minnesota State ran its unbeaten streak against UAH to 26 games (22-0-4) dating back to 2002. … Michigan Tech beat Bemidji State 5-1 on Saturday, giving fifth-place Tech 40 points in the WCHA standings. That ensured UAH, which can get no more than 36 points, can finish no higher than sixth.

Mavs deny UAH upset bid in OT

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C.J. Seuss scored 27 seconds into overtime as Minnesota State beat UAH 3-2 on Friday night at the Von Braun Center.

The fifth-ranked Mavericks (22-7-0 overall, 18-5-0 WCHA) had tied the game at 2-2 with 2:10 left in regulation to win their sixth straight game and deny the Chargers a major upset.

BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY

UAH (10-19-2 overall, 9-14-2 WCHA) had quickly erased a 1-0 deficit with two goals on their first two shots of the third period, looking to end a 24-game winless streak against Minnesota State dating back to 2002.

The Chargers remain in sixth place in the WCHA with Alaska’s loss to Northern Michigan, who stayed one point ahead of Minnesota State atop the league standings.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUhFN7KZi2s[/embedyt]

 

The series finale is Saturday night at 7:07 p.m.

The Mavericks exercised their will with the puck early on, but could not find the net despite getting the first eight shots on Jordan Uhelski.

UAH did start to get in a groove late in the first, making MSU goaltender Connor LaCouvee get to work. The Chargers, thanks in part to a late power play, were able to pull even in shots, 10-10, at the end of the period.

The Mavericks dominated possession in the second period, outshooting the Chargers 17-2. They got help from four UAH penalties, including back-to-back calls against Tyler Poulsen and Brandon Parker that put MSU up two men with over a minute.

UAH survived that surge, thanks to Uhelski. Among his 16 saves in the period included an odd-man rush with Marc Michaelis out of the box after a Charger power play, a C.J. Seuss shorthanded chance on that same power play, and denying Brad McClure, Mcihaelis, and Seuss back-to-back-to-back in a matter of seconds.

However, Uhelski could not stop them all. With 4:22 left in the second, Uhelski saved a Dallas Gerads shot, but the rebound came right to a unabated, driving Parker Tuomie in the slot. Tumoie pounced and scored for a 1-0 Minnesota State lead.

UAH came out for the third period with two goals on two shots to quickly take the lead.

Kurt Gosselin scored his fifth goal of the season at the 1:14 mark, assisted by Jordan Larson (his first point of the season) and Hans Gorowsky (his seventh helper).

At 2:35, freshman Christian Rajic beat LaCouvee from the right circle for his ninth goal of the season. Madison Dunn and Josh Kestner with the assists.

UAH tried to survive the Maverick barrage as long as they could, but MSU tied the game with 2:10 left in regulation. Parker Tuomie found Marc Michaelis in the slot, and his deflection beat Uhelski high.

That set up Seuss and his 16th goal of the season on MSU’s first shot on goal in overtime, giving the Mavericks the sigh of relief. It was the first overtime game for MSU this season.

Uhelski finished with 39 saves, the fifth straight game he has made 30 or more. UAH was outshot 42-19.