Not the way the Chargers wanted to return home and start the second half of the WCHA schedule.
Back at the Von Braun Center for the first time in 40 days, UAH lost to Bemidji State 3-1 on Thursday.
The Chargers (1-17-3 overall, 1-11-3-1 WCHA) had their chances with the power play, getting seven opportunities, but could not find the net in any of them.
Bemidji State (11-7-3, 11-3-1-0), which sits second in the WCHA standings, got two power-play goals from freshman defenseman Elias Rosen.
UAH will try to snap its now eight-game winless streak in the series finale on Friday night at 7:37 p.m.
Rosen scored from the right side just nine seconds into Bemidji State’s first power play for a 1-0 Beavers lead at the 7:47 mark of the first period.
UAH tied the game at 1-1 at the 4:36 mark of the second, when Jack Jeffers picked up a loose puck around a BSU defenseman and then beat goaltender Zach Discoll five hole.
It was the fifth goal of the season for Jeffers, who was assisted by Connor Merkley.
“We want Jack in front of the net like that so he can finish in those areas.”
That was the only goal allowed by Driscoll, who stopped 23 of 24 Charger shots.
Bemidji State regained the lead at 2-1 early in the third period when Alex Adams finished off a cross-ice pass from Carter Jones at 5:49.
About six minutes later, Rosen found the net again on the power play to make it 3-1 BSU. The goal occurred with a two-man advantage following back-to-back penalties by Tanner Hickey and Peyton Francis. The Beavers finished 2-for-6 on their power-play opportunities.
“It was kind of a blah game,” UAH head coach Mike Corbett said. “We feel good about ourselves going into the third period. We made a bad change on the second goal, and then you get a 5-on-3 (against us). … We killed most of it, and then they get that one.
“We have to create some energy. We have to be able to make a play. We’ve got to make a play in a 1-1 game, and stay out of the penalty box.”
Meanwhile, UAH is 0-for-44 with the advantage dating back to its last power play goal on November 9.
UAH outshot BSU 24-23 despite a puck-possession advantage for the Beavers overall. The stats were pretty even between the two teams, including shot attempts (UAH 40-39) and faceoffs (BSU 30-28).
“What I’m proud of is that they’re playing hard, playing to win every single night. We got to get some leadership, we got to get that play at the right time to crack when it’s a 1-1 game. We’ve got to be able to take that next step as a team that way. And that’s hard in this league.
“At the Division I level, you have to have that second or third effort. They understand it, now they just got to be able to do it. We’ve had enough learning lessons and moral victories. We’ve got to get on the scoreboard sooner or later.”