CC trip long and UAA strong right now

No. 8 Colorado College finds itself traveling a long ways to face a team that looks to be playing its best hockey of the season.

Eighth-place Alaska-Anchorage (8-13-1, 6-11-1) is 4-4-1 in its past nine Western Collegiate Hockey Association games including a one-goal loss and a tie at Denver.

Their physical, defensive style often keeps the score close, allowing the Seawolves the opportunity to pull out a win as they did earlier this season with a split at CC and Saturday home wins against Denver, North Dakota and Minnesota State-Mankato.

That style and some well-earned confidence means this will be a challenging weekend series for the third-place Tigers (13-8-3, 9-6-3).

“They never quit and that makes them tough, especially at home where they’ve had some success,” Tigers coach Scott Owens said. “They’re playing very well right now.”

The Seawolves have capable scorers in current WCHA Offensive Player of the Week Kevin Clark (20 points, 12 goals), Tommy Grant (19, 13 assists) and Sean Wiles (12, eight goals).

The struggling CC power play (4-of-49, 8.2 percent) is still No. 9 overall (30-of-136, 22.1 percent) and takes on a good penalty kill for Anchorage (No. 19, 112-of-134, 83.6 percent). The Tigers’ power play should get some chances. The Seawolves lead the nation with the most average penalty minutes (21.7).

Tigers leading scorer Bill Sweatt (23 points, 12 assists) is a goal or assist away from becoming the 73rd Tiger to record 100 points. Ten Tigers have at least 10 points, including Stephen Schultz (20, 15 assists), Rylan Schwartz (19, 14 assists), Nate Prosser (18, 15 assists) and Mike Testwuide (17, 13 goals). Three more have nine.