MARQUETTE, Mich. â€Â“ The last homegame for three seniors (Alex Sawruk, Justin Kinnunen and Craig Kowalski) wasSaturday night at the Berry Events Center.  Kowalski tied the NMU career recordfor games played by a goaltender by playing in his 131^st game onSaturday night.  He tied the record set by Bill Pye (1987-91).  But his gamewas not that long as he went down with an injury almost five minutes into thegame.  Tuomas Tarkki came in and had 28 saves to lead the â€Â˜Cats to the 2-1 winover the Ferris State Bulldogs.

NMU wrapped up seventh place in the CCHA and ends theregular season with an 18-14-4 overall record and a 13-13-2 mark in the CCHA. The Bulldogs fall to 15-18-3 and 10-17-1.  NMU will face Alaska Fairbanks inthe CCHA Playoffs next week in Fairbanks, Alaska.  The CCHA Playoffs is a besttwo-of-three affair.  The Nanooks defeated the â€Â˜Cats twice during the regularseason in Fairbanks in January by scores of 1-0 and 5-2. â€ÂœWe have to go upthere and play good playoff hockey,â€Â Walt Kyle said.

Darin Olver did all the scoring for the â€Â˜Cats on the nightas he scored both goals.  For the fourth time this season Olver had two goalsin a game.  His first goal came at 6:38 of the second period for his 12^thof the season.  Zach Tarkir and Matt Maunu assisted on the goal.  His secondgoal and game-winner was scored at 1:33 of the third period.  Jamie Milam andPat Bateman assisted.  â€ÂœI really do not know how we pulled it off,â€Â Olversaid.  â€ÂœTuomas Tarkki came in and played unbelievable.  We lost the heart andsoul of the team in (Craig) Kowalski early in the game.â€Â

The Bulldogs cut the lead in half with a power-play goal byGreg Rallo at 7:34 of the final period.  The Bulldogs scored the lone power-playgoal on the night as they had four chances with the extra attacker.  The â€Â˜Catshad three power-play opportunities and were shutout on the night.

Ferris doubled the shots than the â€Â˜Cats on the night with 34to NMUâ€Â™s 17.  Mike Brown went the distance for the Bulldogs in goal and had 15saves.  Tarkki was given the first star of the game for his play in relief ofKowalski.  â€ÂœNot much time to think,â€Â Tarkki said.  â€ÂœThe defense played well andwe did not have too much traffic in front of me.â€Â