ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Michigan Tech hockey team received a power-play goal from Lars Helminen (Brighton, Mich.) and an even-strength marker from Malcolm Gwilliam (Kamloops, B.C.), but Alaska Anchorage took advantage of two power-play goals of its own to gain a 3-2 victory in front 3,292 at Sullivan Arena Friday night.

The Seawolves struck first at the 6:19 mark of the opening period with a rebound goal off the stick of Paul Crowder. Justin Bourne took the initial shot that MTU netdminer Rob Nolan (Sherwood Park, Alta.) easily pushed aside, but Crowder was alone in the slot. Crowder grabbed the puck and sent a quick shot up high past Nolan on the glove side.

During the scoring sequence Husky defenseman John Schwarz (Calgary, Alta.) had to leave the game after taking an awkward hit into the boards. Schwarz did not return to the contest and will not appear in Saturday's game.

Tech evened the score at one apiece at 10:37 of the first period when Helminen connected on a one-timer from just below the point while the Huskies held a 5-on-3 power play. The one-timer attempt was made possible because of a well-placed drop-pass from Peter Rouleau (Hancock, Mich.). Helminen's shot squeeked through the legs of UAA goalie Nathan Lawson in the five-hole to give the blueliner his second goal of the season and 11th point of the 2006-07 campaign. Rouleau's helper was one of two on the night. Geoff Kinrade (Nelson, B.C.) also chipped in his ninth assist of the season on the goal.

The Seawolves regained the lead at the 13:09 mark of the second stanza after making good on a 5-on-3 man advantage. Josh Lunden tapped the puck into an open net on Nolan's glove side after taking a tip-pass from Crowder right in front. Mat Robinson earned the second assist as a result of making the pass from the left circle over to Crowder.

Alaska Anchorage (11-11-3, 7-11-1 WCHA) built a 3-1 cushion with another power-play tally just over eight minutes into the third frame. Kevin Clark registered what proved to be the game-winning goal with a tip in off a Mark Smith shot from the point that was tapped in on Nolan's stick side.

Michigan Tech (10-13-2, 5-10-2 WCHA) cut the Seawolves' lead to one goal at 13:52, as Gwilliam buried a great pass from Tyler Shelast (Kelowna, B.C.) right in front. Shelast sent a pass from the right corner boards perfectly onto the stick of a well-positioned Gwilliam. Gwilliam put the puck five-hole past Lawson to secure his seventh lamplighter of the year. The assist was Shelast's seventh of the season. Roleau grabbed his second helper of the contest, and 12th of the 2006-07 slate, by providing the second assist on the goal.

The Huskies mounted a last-ditch flurrry and pulled netminder Nolan with 57 seconds remaining in regulation. Head coach Jamie Russell called a timeout with 26 ticks left on the scoreboard, but UAA held on to take game one of the two-game series.

For the game, the Seawolves held a slight 19-18 lead in shots on goal.

Each goaltender finished with 16 saves on the night, with Lawson improving to 9-9-2 and Nolan dropping to 6-8-1.

Alaska Anchorage went 2-for-5 on the power play, compared to MTU, which filed a 1-for-5 mark with a man advantage.

The Huskies and Seawolves meet in the rubber match Saturday evening at Sullivan Arena. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 11:07 p.m. EST.

Notes: Helminen's goal was his first since Oct. 20 at Vermont and it was his first power-play goal of the season ... Rouleau now has a team-best five multi-point games after chipping in two assists tonight.