Sunday Wrap-up: Ice Dogs Take Victory in Win-Or-Go-Home Contest Over the Windigo

Photo Credit: Kristen Pearson

Wisconsin 0 @ Fairbanks 3 (Wisconsin leads series 2-1)  - In a win-or-go-home scenario, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs make a statement in game three against the Wisconsin Windigo. The contest opened with both teams trading chances; neither was able to find twine in the first 20 minutes of play. Fairbanks outshot Wisconsin 13 to 6. Moving into the middle frame, the Ice Dogs found twine for the first time in the playoffs this season. Defenseman Dean Andrews lights the lamp off a rebound to give the Ice Dogs the 1-0 advantage. The scoring would continue in the frame, this time with Oliver Barna scoring on the man advantage with 90 seconds left in the middle frame. Barna drops to a knee and scores through the back door for the Ice Dogs. Fairbanks moved into the final 20 minutes of regulation with a two-goal advantage over the Windigo. The final period featured a battle between the teams. With the goal of cutting the deficit in half, the Windigo pulled their goaltender, Max Larsson, from the net. However, the man advantage would not be enough, and Fairbanks would add to their lead with an empty-netter by University of Alaska-Fairbanks commit Luke Osborn. The contest ended with the Ice Dogs responding with a big 3-0 shutout victory and an extra life in the playoff series. In net, Miles Roberts turned aside all 19 shots on net, earning them a 19-save shutout victory.

Anchorage 0 @ Minnesota W 4 (Minnesota leads series 2-1) - Marking their second shutout in a row, the Minnesota Wilderness dominated against the Anchorage Wolverines on Sunday night. The scoring kicked off quickly with Canisius commit Zach Homer lighting the lamp 45 seconds into the contest. Following him less than 45 seconds later was Anthony Capello, making the score 2-0 for the Wilderness. Moving into the middle frame, Minnesota adds to their lead quickly, just like in the first period. Zach Homer scores his second of the night, this time on the man advantage at the 19:18 minute mark. Both teams would trade chances throughout the rest of the frame, but neither would find twine. Moving into the last 20 minutes of the contest, Minnesota’s alternate captain, Talan Blanck, would notch his third point of the night midway through the final period. This goal was his fourth goal of the postseason. The Wilderness would skate to a 4-0 shutout victory, marking back-to-back shutout wins against the Anchorage Wolverines. In net, Ryan Gerlich turned aside all 26 shots on net, securing the victory.