Anchorage, Alaska | 3/4/22 | Isaac Smoldon
The Anchorage Wolverines lost in a shootout to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs Friday night, by a final score of 4-3. All three of the Ice Dogs goals came on the powerplay, with Fairbanks going 3/3 with the man advantage. Both teams face off against each other again on Saturday, at 7PM AKST.
The 1st period was a close affair, with both teams battling back-and-forth through the frame. Fairbanks got the first goal of the game at the 15:08 mark, on a powerplay one-timer from Cameron Ricotta. The Ice Dogs wouldn’t hold onto the lead for long however, as Clay Allen tied the game just 40 seconds later. Both teams went into the middle frame knotted at one goal apiece.
The 2nd would be dominated by Fairbanks early, with Jack Ring regaining the lead just two minutes in. Anchorage would pick it up in the later half of the frame, and a point shot from Danny Reis tied the game back up at two. The Wolverines would fall behind once again late in the period however, when the Ice Dogs tallied their third powerplay goal off a shot from Kevin Marx Noren.
Anchorage battled throughout the 3rd, and finally would tie the game halfway through the frame. Cameron Morris got a tip to go up and over the shoulder of Fairbanks goaltender Kayden Hargraves, and knotted the game back up at three apiece. Both squads had opportunities through the remainder of the period, but neither would be able to score, and overtime would be required to settle the game.
Both teams had five shots each in the extra frame, but just like the second half of the 3rd, neither would score. The game would go into a shootout, with Alexander Malinowski sinking the game winning attempt for Fairbanks.
Both teams picked up a point in the Midwest division standings, as teams continue to battle for a playoff berth. With the win, Fairbanks leads the Wolverines by one point in the Club 49 Cup as the teams sit at 23 and 22 points respectively. The two teams will play each other again Saturday night at the Ben. Game time is 7PM AKST, with tickets now available at anchoragewolverines.com.
