The visiting Kenai River Brown Bears dropped a 1-0 decision to the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on Saturday in North American Hockey League action.
Camden Davis scored on the power play with 1:56 left in the game to provide the difference.
The Brown Bears go into the holiday break in seventh place in the Midwest Division at 12-16-1-2, good for 27 points. The Springfield (Jr.) Blues hold the fourth and final playoff spot out of the Midwest Division with 32 points. The Steel are in sixth place at 13-14-1-2, good for 29 points.
Kenai River is now on break until Jan. 3 and 4, when the Bears play at the first-place Wisconsin Windigo. Both games start at 4 p.m. AKST. Kenai River returns home on Jan. 10 and 11 to face the Fairbanks Ice Dogs at 7:30 p.m. both nights at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
Mitchell Mccusker made 32 saves for Kenai River, while Devin Shakar earned the shutout for the Steel with 18 saves.
Saturday
Steel 1, Brown Bears 0
Ken 0 0 0 —0
Chi 0 0 1 —1
First period — none. Penalties — Kenai River 3 for 6:00.
Second period — none. Penalties — Chippewa 1 for 2:00.
Third period — 1. Chippewa, Davis (Percic, Lackas), pp, 18:04. Penalties — Kenai River 2 for 4:00; Chippewa 4 for 27:00.
Shots on goal — Kenai River 5-6-7—18; Chippewa 14-9-10—33.
Goalies — Kenai River, Mccusker (33 shots, 32 saves); Chippewa, Shakar (18 shots, 18 saves).
Power plays — Kenai River 0 for 3; Chippewa 1 for 5.
