Barring an unlikely turn of events, UAH will miss the WCHA playoffs. The latest nail in the coffin: A 3-1 loss Saturday night at Northern Michigan, finishing a Wildcat sweep.

The Chargers (6-19-5 overall, 4-15-5 WCHA) are five points behind Alaska Anchorage for the eighth and final league playoff spot with four games to go (UAA defeated Lake Superior State 5-2), and three points behind ninth-place Alaska. Anchorage also holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over UAH.

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Meanwhile, Northern Michigan (15-11-6 overall, 12-8-4 WCHA) pulled into a tie with Ferris State for fourth place, where they would host a first-round playoff series. NMU won 3-0 on Friday.

This time, Brent Fletcher got the Chargers on the board first, sneaking the puck through NMU goaltender Mathias Dahlstrom at 9:41 of the first period for a 1-0 UAH lead. His third goal of the season was assisted by Brandon Parker and Matt Salhany.

Northern Michigan answered at 15:09 on a great effort by Cohen Adair. He took the puck from the left point, through the slot, and beat Carmine Guerriero (32 saves) on the stick side to knot the game at 1-1.

The end of the first got chippy. NMU’s Ryan Trenz collided with Fletcher at center ice to get a tripping call, but Fletcher was called for embellishment to keep UAH from having a power play. Regan Soquila made some hard hits that were not called for penalties, but an unsportsmanlike conduct after the period’s final horn was called on Kurt Gosselin to give the Wildcats the power play to start the second.

That power play would give NMU the lead 55 seconds in. Dominik Shine at the right point, to Brock Maschmeyer in center, to Darren Nowick in the left circle, who caught Guerriero out of position and found a wide-open net for his 12th goal of the season.

Most of the second period was dominated by the Wildcats, and they struck again at 14:01 as Robbie Payne beats Guerriero from the right circle for his 12th of the year.

At the end of two, Northern Michigan led 3-1.

Early in the third, Guerriero had to make four saves on an NMU power play. Meanwhile, UAH still couldn’t get much offensive pressure until the end, when they had a power play and an extra attacker in the final 1:08 of the game.

Northern Michigan outshot UAH 35-15 in the contest.

UAH travels to Bemidji State next weekend, and the Chargers will likely need to sweep the Beavers and get help in order for the final series at the Von Braun Center against Bowling Green to have any playoff implications.

Any momentum built from last weekend’s results against Minnesota State was quickly quashed in the first 20 minutes against Northern Michigan on Friday.

The Wildcats got all the goals they needed in a 3-0 shutout over UAH in Marquette, putting another barrier in the Chargers’ road to the WCHA playoffs.

UAH (6-18-5 overall, 4-14-5 WCHA) will need to regroup and look for a win and series split Saturday night while hoping the Alaska teams lose to stay within striking distance of eighth place in the league standings. Alaska beat Bowling Green 2-1, which drew them into a tie for 8th with Alaska Anchorage, which lost to Lake Superior State 3-2. UAH is now three points out of 8th with five games to go.

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Northern Michigan (14-11-6 overall, 11-8-4 WCHA) has won six of its last eight in its campaign to host a first-round WCHA playoff series.

The game was decided in a disastrous first period for UAH. Northern Michigan had the Chargers on their heels for the vast majority, outshooting UAH 23-5 and scoring three goals.

It started with Dominik Shine, who had a hat trick in Huntsville back in December, driving through the slot and beating Larose at the 4:20 mark.

The second NMU goal Larose could not do much with. Barrett Keib shot from the right point bounced off Filip Starzynski’s skate, then Anthony Paskaruk’s skate, then the back of the net at 10:52.

The Wildcats made it 3-0 after a puck deflection off of Robbie Payne’s stick handcuffed Larose at 7:21.

Larose still made 20 saves in the first period from all sorts of angles. Meanwhile, the rest of the Chargers had little to no rhythm or momentum.

The Chargers regrouped and played a more solid game in the second period. With a little help from two power plays, UAH outshot NMU 10-2 in the frame, but could not beat goaltender Mathias Dahlstrom, who earned his first shutout of the season with 19 saves.

There wasn’t much doing in the third period as NMU was content to hold serve the rest of the way and claim the win. Larose stayed sharp, finishing with a total of 28 saves on 31 shots.

UAH was shut out for just the second time this season, the other time coming Jan. 1 at North Dakota (1-0).

Game 2 is Saturday at 6:07 p.m. Central Time in Marquette.

The Chargers could not get anything going offensively — as has been the case in recent years against Minnesota State — but one play may have saved their season.

Shorthanded and down a goal with just over a minute left in regulation, Brandon Parker‘s pass up the middle to center ice found Matt Salhany, who broke away and beat MSU goaltender Cole Huggins as UAH forced a 1-1 tie and stole another point from the WCHA-leading Mavericks.

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That the Chargers were even still in the game is thanks to another stellar performance by goaltender Matt Larose. The junior stopped 49 of 50 Minnesota State shots in his fourth straight start between the pipes, the most saves in a game in the WCHA this season.

UAH (6-17-5 overall, 4-13-5 WCHA) managed to take two points in the series after Friday’s 3-3 overtime draw. The Chargers moved to within three points of Alaska-Anchorage for the eighth and final playoff spot, and one point behind idle ninth-place Alaska, all with six games left.

Minnesota State (15-10-7 overall, 13-4-7 WCHA) probably expected to put a stranglehold on the top spot in the race for the MacNaughton Cup. The Mavericks, who have four conference games left, are now up four points over Bowling Green and Michigan Tech, but both chasers have two extra games to play.

The Mavericks, just like every meeting with UAH since the Chargers joined the WCHA in 2013, dominated the puck possession and shot attempts. MSU outshot UAH 50-20 in this one, but could only manage a power play goal at 6:20 of the second period by C.J. Franklin.

UAH had an excellent chance with about five minutes left in regulation as back-to-back penalties by Bryce Gervais and Franklin gave the Chargers about a minute of two-man advantage, but UAH could never get set up for a shot at the equalizer.

Then UAH’s Kurt Gosselin was called for boarding with 1:27 left, and it really seemed unlikely that the Chargers could put on a final rally. But then came the Parker-to-Salhany play, which brought delight to the announced crowd of 2,183 at Von Braun Center. It was Salhany’s third goal of the season, and Parker’s seventh assist.

Gervais had a boarding call that gave UAH a power play that lasted into overtime, but the Chargers managed only one shot on goal in the extra frame. The Mavericks had six, keeping Larose busy until the end.

The Chargers hit the road the next two weeks as they try to build momentum toward a playoff berth, heading to Northern Michigan next week and Bemidji State the week after. UAH finishes the regular season at home on March 4-5 against Bowling Green.

The Chargers need points in any shape or form to make the WCHA playoffs. So getting one against the top team in the league is a bonus.

Madison Dunn got two goals — one albeit on a bizarre empty net score during a delayed penalty — and Matt Larose made 34 saves as UAH tied 17th-ranked Minnesota State 3-3 on Friday at the Von Braun Center.

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The Chargers (6-17-4 overall, 4-13-4 WCHA), now 2-2-2 in their last six games, pulled to within four points of Lake Superior State (who lost) and Alaska Anchorage (idle) for one of the last of the eight playoff spots in the WCHA. Minnesota State (15-10-6 overall, 13-4-6 WCHA) increased its WCHA lead to three points over Bowling Green and Michigan Tech.

Dunn got the scoring started for the Chargers at the 9:22 mark of the 1st, putting in a rebound from the right circle for his first collegiate goal and a 1-0 UAH lead. Brennan Saulnier and Adam Wilcox got the assists.

The lead lasted for three minutes as Bryce Gervais knotted the game at 1-1 for the Mavericks.

Brent Fletcher led off the second period with a shorthanded goal just 28 seconds in, unassisted, to make it 2-1 UAH. That Charger lead was also short-lived as Zach Stephan scored on that same MSU power play 1:20 later to tie it again at 2-2.

UAH retook the lead yet again halfway through the third on an own goal by the Mavericks. MSU had pulled goaltender Cole Huggins on a delayed penalty call for an extra attacker, but the Mavericks passed the puck out of the offensive zone, bouncing it off the near boards all the way down the ice and into their own net. Dunn was the last UAH player to touch it, so he was credited with his second goal of the game.

Minnesota State equalized the game one last time with 6:10 remaining in regulation, as Gervais struck again with his second goal of the game.

Larose and the Chargers withstood a seven-shot barrage in the five-minute overtime period for the final score. The Mavericks continued their puck possession mastery over UAH, outshooting the Chargers 37-18 for the game.

Game two of the series is Saturday night at 7:07 p.m. Military Appreciation Night continues with all active military and veterans getting free admission.

UAH somehow stayed in a game despite getting only 12 shots on goal. In the end, though, the Chargers’ playoff hopes are looking slim after a 4-3 loss at Alaska Anchorage on Saturday night.

UAH (6-17-3 overall, 4-13-3 WCHA) ended up with a split with Anchorage (10-13-3 overall, 7-11-2 WCHA) following the Chargers’ 2-1 win on Friday, but the Chargers really needed a sweep to stay in the Alaska teams’ rear-view mirror for the final league playoff spot.

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UAH is now five points behind UAA and Lake Superior State, which are tied for seventh place and hold the final two playoff spots in the WCHA standings, with eight games remaining. Alaska is in ninth, also on the outside looking in, three points above the Chargers.

Although UAH struggled with puck possession, the Chargers made the most of their chances.

As they did on Friday, the Chargers struck first again, this time from Regan Soquila at 7:17 of the first period. Soquila beat UAA goaltender Olivier Mantha from the slot after receiving a pass from Brent Fletcher behind the net.

It was first goal of the season for Soquila, who played in just his 12th game of the season. Fletcher got his third assist, and Matt Salhany got his fifth helper.

After that, it was all Anchorage the rest of the first period. Brad Duwe tied the game at 1-1 as he beat Matt Larose from the left circle.

For the most part, Larose played solid with some nice glove saves. UAA kept peppering him with shots, particularly during their power play with just under five minutes left in the frame, when the Seawolves got five shots.

Larose made the saves, but with 1:53 to go, Anchorage got its first lead of the series as Tad Kozun’s shot got under his pad. UAA led 2-1 after one after outshooting the Chargers 14-3.

It only continued into the second, and it was only a matter of time before Blake Tatchell got involved. At 3:58 left in the 2nd, Tatchell squeezed a shot between Larose and defenseman Frank Misuraca to make it a 3-1 Seawolf lead.

UAH offense continued to get clamped down, only managing three shots on goal at the halfway point of the contest. Yet, the Chargers’ fourth shot on goal drew them back within one, as Tyler Poulsen’s snapper beat Mantha with 7:24 remaining in the second.

So despite getting only six shots on goal through two periods, UAH was only down 3-2.

The Seawolves made it 4-2 on Jarrett Brown’s goal with 8:11 to go, but the Chargers quickly answered a minute later. Soquila got his second goal of the game as he deflected a Kurt Gosselin slapshot from just inside the blue line. Gosselin and Cody Champagne got the assists.

UAH finally to put up some consistent pressure near the end, allowing Larose to go to the bench for the extra attacker, but the Seawolves and Mantha held on for the win in the final two minutes.

Alaska Anchorage finished with a 31-12 shots on goal advantage. Both teams had six shots in the final period.

The Chargers are off next week before returning to the Von Braun Center to host first-place Minnesota State on Feb. 12 and 13.

The Chargers needed a win in any shape or form to stay in the WCHA playoff hunt. Even in gift form.

Matt Larose stopped 29 of 30 shots, and UAH got the benefit of an own goal with 4:19 remaining to take a 2-1 win at Alaska Anchorage on Friday night.

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The win drew UAH (6-16-3 overall, 4-12-3 WCHA) to within three points of Alaska Anchorage and Alaska, which remain tied for the eighth place and last playoff spot in the conference. The Seawolves fell to 9-13-3 overall and 6-11-2 in the WCHA.

It was UAH’s first-ever win over the Seawolves in Anchorage, where the Chargers were 0-13 dating back to 1987.

Goals were going to be hard to come by enough against UAA’s talented goaltender Olivier Mantha, but the Chargers were also missing two of their top leading scorers on the first line. Brennan Saulnier is suspended for the series by the WCHA for a contact to the head incident at Ferris State two weeks ago, and UAH’s top goal scorer, Chad Brears, was out of the lineup.

UAH did manage to strike first, just 3:04 into the contest.

Left wing Jetlan Houcher centered a pass to the slot, where Tyler Poulsen‘s shot was saved by Mantha. The rebound came right to Adam Wilcox in front of the crease, and Wilcox buried his fourth goal of the season.

No scoring in the second period, while each team got a power play. UAA had three shots on goal on its man advantage early in the period after a Cody Marooney holding call. UAH had chances on its power play after Brent Fletcher was taken down by UAA’s Dylan Hubbs.

However, the Seawolves’ best chance came on a 2-on-1 break shorthanded, but the puck rolled off Tad Kozun’s stick and wide of the UAH net.

Alaska Anchorage dominated much of the third period, throwing pucks at Larose, who were able to make several glove and body saves.

It helped the Seawolves to get two early power plays, and they finally tied the game with 10:07 left on the second advantage. Wyatt Ege’s blast  found its way through traffic for the only goal Larose would allow.

Mantha was strong for UAA as well, denying Matt Salhany‘s breakaway shot with his glove. Ege slashed Salhany on the play, but UAH failed to convert the ensuing power play.

Then came the fortunate bounce for UAH. Mantha played the puck behind his net, sending it to defenseman Chris Williams. Williams’s errant pass went back toward the UAA goal as Mantha was returning, hitting Mantha’s skate and going in the net with 4:19 left in regulation. The own goal gave UAH the lead. Salhany got credit for his second goal of the season.

UAA outshot the Chargers 30-24. Mantha made 22 saves.

Game two of the series is Saturday night at 10:07 p.m. Central Time.