The visiting Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets 4-3 in overtime Saturday in North American Hockey League action.
The Brown Bears took the decisive game in the three-game Midwest Division series by winning an overtime game for the second time in the series.
Kenai River moves to 4-3-0-0, while Janesville is 5-0-2-0.
“The guys worked hard this weekend and should be proud to get four of six points on the road,” Kenai River head coach Taylor Shaw said.
In Thursday’s 2-1 overtime win, it took the line of Noah Holt, Caleb Huffman and Bryce Monrean just one shift to end the game. The trio did that again Saturday when Holt, on assists from Huffman and Monrean, scored 30 seconds into overtime to end the game.
Shaw said Huffman made a great play to slide a pass to Holt through the defenseman’s skates. Holt was able to tuck the puck under the bar on the glove side.
The Bears went into the third period up 2-1, but injuries also had the team down to 12 skaters. Kenai River went up 3-1 when Ben Monson got his first NAHL goal. The power-play strike was assisted by Monrean and Holt.
Janesville fought back to tie it when Noah Gibbs scored with 2:39 left and Chris Pelosi scored with 1:56 left.
“It shows what kind of group we have in the room,” Shaw said. “No matter what, they have what it takes to keep fighting.
“To come out and get one back speaks volumes about the group.”
After a scoreless first period, Pelosi gave the Jets the lead in the second period. Garrett Drotts, assisted by Ryan Finch and Ashton Christman, tied the game. Then Finch, assisted by Owen Penny and Carson Triggs, pushed the Bears ahead.
Nils Wallstrom made 41 saves for the Bears, while Peter Sterling stopped 26 for the Jets.
“He was a calm presence in the net and the guys played well in front of him,” Shaw said. “He was one of the reasons we were in the game on the road on a Saturday night.”
The Bears stay on the road to face the expansion Wisconsin Windigo on Friday and Saturday at 4 p.m. AKDT.
Brown Bears 4, Jets 3, OT
Kenai River 0 2 1 1 —4
Janesville 0 1 2 0 —3
First period — none. Penalties — Kenai River 2 for 4:00; Janesville 1 for 2:00.
Second period — 1. Janesville, Pelosi (Troutwine, Brown), 1:34; 2. Kenai River, Drotts (Finch, Christman), 2:30; 3. Kenai River, Finch (Penny, Triggs), 8:30. Penalties — Kenai River 5 for 18:00; Janesville 4 for 16:00.
Third period — 4. Kenai River, Monson (Monrean, Holt), pp, 9:01; 5. Janesville, Gibbs (Lieberman, Williams), 17:21; 6. Janesville, Pelosi (Keryluk, Troutwine), 18:04. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00; Janesville 2 for 4:00.
Overtime — 7. Kenai River, Holt (Huffman, Monrean), 0:30. Penalties — none.
Shots on goal — Kenai River 4-15-10-1—30; Janesville 9-18-15-2—44.
Power plays — Kenai River 1 for 4; Janesville 0 for 5.
