Yesterday the Ice Wolves faced the Ice Dogs for the final time during the regular season. The previous night saw the Ice Dogs win in overtime, 4-3. While New Mexico only skated away with one point it did put them on their longest point streak of the season (4).
The Ice Wolves started the first period with a lot of confidence, as they were able to move the puck around extremely well. They managed to get 11 shots on Austin Ryman, but he saved every single one of them. As for Fairbanks, they were only able to get six shots on Garrett Mackay through 20 minutes of action. With both goalies standing tall, the first period ended scoreless.
The middle period is when the Ice Dogs started to make the most of their scoring chances. The first goal of the game came off the stick of Jasper Lester (4) nearly 1:15 into the period. Later in the game, Griffen Sanom was called for hooking and the Ice Dogs converted on the power play. Increasing their lead to 2-0. Then with under a minute left to go in the second period, Matt Koethe (13) was able to bet Mackay to give the Ice Dogs their biggest lead of the weekend. Fairbanks was leading in shots after 40 minutes of play, 21-19.
For the second-straight period the Ice Dogs scored a goal within the opening two minutes. Mason Plante (10) was able to squeak his shot past Mackay to put his team up 4-0. The Ice Dogs went on to add another goal before the horn sounded to end game two. While the scoring was high so were the tempers between the two non-division opponents. Sean Henry and Trenton Woods dropped the gloves for a heavyweight fight. Both landed multiple blows and then were escorted to the locker room where they remained for the rest of the game. Mackay ended the game with 28 saves and Ryman had 25 along with his fifth shutout of the season.
The Ice Wolves finished their season series 0-3-1 against the Ice Dogs. With the 5-0 win, it put Fairbanks on a ten-game point streak. They are now ten points ahead of the team the Ice Wolves will face this weekend (Kenai River Brown Bears). The loss snapped the Ice Wolves four-game point streak. They will have a chance to start another streak this weekend when they face Kenai to conclude the season series against them.