The nine-game losing streak that began with a home loss to the Bowling Green State Falcons in December came to an end as power play goals helped lift the Nanooks in a on-the-road rematch.

The Nanooks defeated the last-ranked team with a 5-2 win on Friday and a 2-2 tie on Saturday in Bowling Green, Ohio.

"I think we finally got rewarded for our hard work," said head coach Tavis MacMillan.

The 'Nooks got on the board early Friday. Just five minutes into the game, sophomore Trevor Hyatt put a rebound of senior Lucas Burnett's shot past Falcons goalie Jimmy Spratt to take the lead.

Hyatt's goal remained the only score in the first period. The Nanooks' defense held strong throughout the period, holding the Falcons to just one shot and firing 12 on Spratt.

The Falcons came out strong in the second period and seemingly took UAF goalie Chad Johnson by surprise. Just 50 seconds into the second period, Bowling Green's Jonathan Matsumoto put one past Johnson to tie up the game.

In the very next play, Tommy Dee intercepted a Nanook pass for a breakaway and put the puck past Johnson again. Wylie Rogers was then sent in to relieve Johnson and helped the Nanooks get back on their feet.

Sophomore Braden Walls started off the power play scoring, tying up the game at 9:12 of the second period, and the teams went into intermission at 2-2.

Junior center Curtis Fraser shone for the 'Nooks all weekend, scoring two goals Friday and one goal and an assist on Saturday.

"Curtis has been playing very well lately," MacMillan said. "He got hurt in the first shift" of Saturday's game and continued to play nearly the whole game.

In the third period, the Nanooks' power play shone. At 4:23, Fraser put one in with the help of Adam Naglich and Darcy Campbell. Two seconds later, Bowling Green's Russ Sinkewich was sent to the box to give the Nanooks yet another power play. Fraser put the puck to the net again during that power play with help from Walls and Naglich.

In the final power play of the game, the Nanooks peppered Spratt with shots until senior Nathan Fornataro finally put it in, assisted by Tyler Eckford and Brandon Knelsen.

The Nanooks were quick to capitalize on their power play opportunities, scoring four goals in nine power plays of the game. The power play setup was "clicking" said Fraser.

"We were just working on moving the puck," he said.

Saturday's game turned out to be closer, as the teams fought to a 2-2 tie in overtime.

The Nanooks once again scored early as Trevor Hyatt attempted to dump the puck into the corner. But it instead ricocheted off a broken stick and towards the net where junior Ryan Muspratt fired it past Spratt. The Falcons scored three minutes later with a man-advantage and the teams again went into the intermission at a tie. The Nanooks dominated in the second period, nearly tripling the Falcons' attempts on goal with 13-5 shots, but it remained scoreless for both teams.

Fraser and his line mates put together yet another successful power play, and about four minutes into the third period, he scored his third goal of the weekend. Darcy Campbell and Kyle Greentree were credited with the assists. Nanook penalties held the 'Nooks back late in the game, said Fraser.

"We out shot them by quite a margin," he said, but added, "We let our emotions get to us."

A checking from behind penalty on Alaska's Brandon Knelson left the 'Nooks shorthanded 15 minutes into the period and Bowling Green quickly capitalized on that power play opportunity as well, tying the game up.

"In a game like that, I didn't see a whole lot of shots," Rogers said.

He said it's difficult as a goalie to see few shots and then have to jump back into action and be prepared to take a flurry of shots. The remainder of regulation play remained scoreless as the teams went into overtime.

Despite a penalty on Greentree in the extra period, the Nanooks held their ground for the full five-minutes and settled for the tie.

Now the Nanooks no longer have to worry about extending into the longest losing-streak ever. That record remains 12 games in the 1999-2000 season.

"We should have been winning all along, and we weren't getting the breaks we needed," Rogers said.

"It's something to build off of," Fraser said.

With three points from the weekend, Alaska holds on to the 10th place rank in CCHA standings.