Fairbanks, Alaska | 4/13/2024 | Jacqueline Hixssen
The Anchorage Wolverines have allowed the Fairbanks Ice Dogs to take both games in the series for the first time this season.
The regular season closed on a poor note for the Wolverines, dropping their last two games to the seventh placed Ice Dogs. Despite the back-to-back losses, the team still managed to clinch first place in the Midwest Division, surpassing the Wisconsin Windigo by a single point.
The game looked to be in the Wolverines’ favor, ending the first period up two goals from Tyler Hennen and Tim Kim. Hennen’s goal had a ring of redemption, after his tie breaker last night was called back.
Fairbanks snagged an early goal in the second frame, but Jackson Stimple responded two minutes later, widening the Wolverines lead with their third goal of the night. The Ice Dogs leveled the score at 3-3 before the third frame could end.
The first half of the third went scoreless until 11:36 when Camden Shasby sent a long pass from the blue line to Kade Shea for what the Wolverines hoped to be their game-winning-goal.
The last five minutes of the contest was spent in the Wolverines zone, with Vaughn Makar defending the net and holding off 18 shots, compared to the Wolverines mere nine.
Makar shut out back-to-back shots, but in the last 3.4 seconds of the game, Luca Ricciardi grabbed the equalizer forcing the game into overtime.
Overtime went scoreless, even after Fairbanks’ penalty shot after a slashing penalty was called on Anchorages’ Brock Devlin.
Ricciardi took the first shot in the shootout, draining it and giving Fairbanks the immediate advantage. Arvega Hovsepyan, Fedya Nikolayenya and Devlin all attempted to bring the game back to the Wolverines, but were unable to get past netminder Tyler Krivtsov.
With the Wolverines securing first place in the Midwest Division, the team is now inclined to the first two rounds of playoffs at home.
Playoffs begin next week, April 19th and 20th against the Minnesota Wilderness at The Ben Boeke with 7:00pm puck drops. Tickets will go live Monday at noon.
More playoff information will be provided throughout the week.
