FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Strong special teams play lifted the Northern Michigan hockey team to a 5-2 victory over Alaska-Fairbanks Saturday night at the Carlson Center.

The Wildcats netted four power play goals, and held the Nanooks scoreless on the man advantage, to move to 4-3-3 (3-2-1 WCHA) on the season.

Dominik Shine's first goal of the season gave the Wildcats their first lead of the weekend at 17:40 in the first period. On the power play, Brock Maschmeyer fired a shot from the point, which left a big rebound in front. Davis Jones denied Cohen Adair's follow-up try, but he couldn't grab the rebound before Shine pounced on it and snapped the puck into the back of the net.

Earlier in the first period, the Wildcats kept the Nanooks from capitalizing on a two-minute 5-on-3 man advantage. Maschmeyer, Jordan Klimek and Darren Nowick kept Alaska-Fairbanks from getting any good looks on net, clogging up the lanes and sweeping away rebounds before the Nanooks could convert them into scoring opportunities.

Sooth extended the Wildcat lead to 2-0 at 4:50 in the second period, taking a feed from Shine near the bottom of the circle and snapping it past Jones. On Northern Michigan's next man advantage, just four minutes later, Ryan Trenz tipped a Zach Diamantoni shot in front, sending the puck trickling past Jones and giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.

Alaska-Fairbanks trimmed the Northern Michigan advantage to 3-1 at 12:02, but Casey Purpur re-established the three-goal lead at 13:29, taking a drop pass from Adair and snapping the puck between the crossbar and Jones's shoulder.

Sooth extended the Wildcat lead to 5-1 at 3:17 in the third period, three seconds into a Wildcat five-minute man advantage, redirecting a Shine shot past Jones.

Alaska-Fairbanks's Brandon Morley capped the scoring at 7:16 in the third, capitalizing on a 2-on-1 shorthanded breakaway with his brother. Northern Michigan killed off a five-minute major penalty, and a 5-on-3 Nanook power play opportunity, late in the third to seal its victory.

The Wildcats are off next week; they return to action when they host Minnesota State Nov. 20 and 21.

NOTES: Northern Michigan leads the all-time series, 32-12-12 ... The Wildcats had been held scoreless on the power play four-straight games entering tonight's contest ...  Atte Tolvanen made 31 saves for the Wildcats ... Sooth's multi-goal performance was the first of his collegiate career ... Sooth is only the second Wildcat to post a multi-goal game this season, joining Robbie Payne, who netted a hat trick Oct. 16 against Lake Superior State ... With a goal and two assists, Shine set a new career high in points and matched his career high in assists, last accomplished Dec. 12, 2014 at Bemidji State... With two helpers on the night, Adair matched his career high in both assists and points, last achieved Feb. 27, 2015 against Lake Superior State ... Maschmeyer's two assists tied his career high, last achieved Feb. 27, 2015 against Lake Superior State ... Ryan Black has now posted an assist in three-straight games ... Purpur (4) and Connor Frantti (1) posted career highs in shots.