The Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears 4-2 in North American Hockey League play Saturday at Red Baron Arena in Minnesota.
The Alaska rivals are now 1-1 against each other this season. Both are based in Minnesota until they can figure out a way to get back to Alaska during the coronavirus pandemic. Red Baron Arena is the temporary home for the Ice Dogs.
The two Alaska teams continue to drop in the standings as other squads catch up to them in games played.
The Minnesota Magicians, with 26 games, are in first place in the Midwest Division with 37 points, while the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets, with 27 games, are in second with 36 points.
The Ice Dogs, 14-16-1-1, are in third with 30 points, while the Bears at 13-15-1-1, are in fourth with 28 points.
The Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel are currently fifth and out of the playoffs with 19 points, but they have only played 24 games.
After Fairbanks went up 1-0 Saturday, Anchorage’s Max Helgeson had it tied going into the second period.
Fairbanks then went up 3-1 after the second period.
With 7:16 to play, Laudon Poellinger got the Bears to 3-2, but Fairbanks would score short-handed to get the victory.
Kayden Hargraves made 25 saves for the Ice Dogs, while Luke Pavicich stopped 45 for the Bears.
The Bears and Ice Dogs face off again Friday at Red Baron Arena at 4:30 p.m. AKDT.
Saturday
Ice Dogs 4, Brown Bears 2
Kenai River 1 0 1 —2
Fairbanks 1 2 1 —4
First period — 1. Fairbanks, Herzberg (Link, Ring), 8:21; 2. Kenai River, Helgeson (Thrun, Lajoie), 13:16. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00; Fairbanks 1 for 2:00.
Second period — 3. Fairbanks, Lester (Becker, Herzberg), 0:45; 4. Fairbanks, Link (Neuharth, Naaykens), pp, 15:59. Penalties — Kenai River 3 for 6:00; Fairbanks 3 for 6:00.
Third period — 5. Kenai River, Poellinger (McNamara, Reid), 12:44; 6. Fairbanks, Link (Becker), en, 19:19. Penalties — Kenai River 3 for 27:00; Fairbanks 5 for 49:00.
Shots on goal — Kenai River 9-12-6—27; Fairbanks 14-20-15—49.
Goalies — Kenai River, Pavicich (48 shots, 45 saves); Hargraves (27 shots, 25 saves).
