ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Sullivan Arena) -- Matt Prapavessis and Gerry Fitzgerald each posted a goal and two assists to lead the Bemidji State University men's hockey team to a 3-3 tie at in the WCHA series opener University of Alaska Anchorage late Friday.

Leading by as many as two goals midway through the second period, the Beavers saw their lead slip away as UAA netted the final two goals of the game to force overtime and eventually the draw.

BSU was first to get on the scoreboard, breaking the scoreless tie at the 11:34 mark of the first period on the fourth goal of the season by senior captain Matt Prapavessis. Following a Seawolves’ goal 1:22 later, Charlie O’Connor sent the Beavers to the locker room at the first intermission toting a 2-1 lead.

At the 11:24 mark of the second period, reigning WCHA Rookie of the Week G. Fitzgerald scored his third goal in as many games, and his third point of the game, to stretch the Beavers’ lead to 3-1.

UAA would again reel the Beavers in before the horn sounded on the second period, getting a goal from Blake Leask at the 17:16 mark of the frame.

The BSU lead would last only 35 seconds into the third period. Brad Duwe netted his first goal of the season to knot the score at 3-3.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the last 19:27 of regulation, as the Beavers would earn their second trip to overtime this season.

UAA out shot BSU 3-2 in the extra session, but the score would remain tied and the Beavers earned a point in the WCHA standings with the draw.

BSU’s special teams were the strength of the team tonight. G. Fitzgerald and Prapavessis each scored on the power play as the Beavers converted two of their three man advantage opportunities into goals and their penalty-kill unit, backed by goaltender Andrew Walsh, was flawless in six appearances (6-for-6), including killing a penalty late in overtime.

Walsh finished the game with 23 saves in 65:00 minutes between the pipes. The senior moves to 2-5-1 on the season.

The Beavers, now unbeaten in their last two games (1-0-1), are 4-10-1 on the season and 2-6-1 in league play.

Bemidji State and Alaska Anchorage will wrap up the WCHA series tomorrow. Opening faceoff is set for 8:07 p.m. CST at Sullivan Arena.

Bemidji State Notes:

• Following the win, BSU holds a 5-1-3 lead in the all-time series and has never lost when facing the Seawolves at Sullivan Arena (2-0-1).
• BSU is unbeaten in overtime this season posting a 1-0-1 record in overtime games.
• G. Fitzgerald’s three-point night (1g-2a) established a new career-high for the rookie.  He now leads all BSU freshman with eight points (3g-5a).
• G. Fitzgerald as now score a goal in each of the Beavers’ last three games and he leads All BSU players with three goals and three assists during that span.
• Matt Prapavessis’ three-point night (1g-2a) is also a single-game career-high for the senior blueliner.
• BSU was 2-for-3 on the power-play tonight, marking its first game of  2014-15 with multiple power-play goals. The Beavers improve to 9-of-64 (.141) on the man advantage this season, while they are 5-fo-40 (.125) in league play and ranks seventh in the WCHA.
• The Beavers were a perfect 6-of-6 on the penalty kill Friday to improve to 56-of-70 (.800) overall and are 35-of-43 in WCHA play to rank ninth at .814.
• The BSU penalty-kill unit has now snuffed out its opponents’ last ten power-play chances. The last goal the Beavers’ penalty-kill unit surrendered was during the third period of its Nov. 28 game versus St. Cloud State.
• Andrew Walsh is unbeaten in his last two appearances. He is 1-0-1 with a 1.92 goals against average, has stopped 57-of-61 shots faces for a save percentage of .934 and has backstopped a penalty-kill unit that is 10-for-10 in those two starts.

--bsu--