The Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Minnesota Wilderness 3-2 on Friday in North American Hockey League play at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
The Bears won for a fourth straight time and fifth time in six tries. The same two teams play Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the sports complex.
Kenai River remains in seventh place in the Midwest Division. At 17-20-1-2, the Bears have 37 points. The Wilderness are in sixth at 17-19-4-0, good for 38 points.
The Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel are in the fourth and final playoff spot out of the Midwest Division at 20-17-2-2, good for 44 points.
Kenai River came from behind twice to claim Friday’s victory.
Ben Roulette of Minnesota had the lone goal of the first period, while Kenai River’s Andy Larson, assisted by Gavin Jensen and Dario Lass, had the lone goal of the second period.
Just 12 seconds into the third period, Jakeb Lynch put the Wilderness up with a power-play strike.
With 13:55 left, Jensen tied it with help from Larson and Lass. With 11:30 left, Brady Engelkes notched the game-winner on assists from John Ross and Riley Mullen.
Mitchell Mccusker stopped 43 for Kenai River, while Niklas Erickson stopped 28 for the Wilderness.
Friday
Brown Bears 3, Wilderness 2
Min 1 0 1 —2
Ken 0 1 2 —3
First period — 1. Minnesota, Roulette (Murray, DeAngelis), 9:00. Penalties — Kenai River 2 for 4:00.
Second period — 2. Kenai River, Larson (Jensen, Lass), 5:57. Penalties — Minnesota 2 for 4:00; Kenai River 1 for 2:00.
Third period — 3. Minnesota, Lynch (Homer, Dziver), pp, 19:48. 4. Kenai River, Jensen (Larson, Lass), 6:05. 5. Kenai River, Engelkes (Ross, Mullen), 8:30. Penalties — Minnesota 1 for 2:00; Kenai River 2 for 4:00.
Shots on goal — Minnesota 17-15-13—45; Kenai River 9-11-11—31.
Goalies — Minnesota, Erickson (31 shots, 28 saves); Kenai River, Mccusker (45 shots, 43 saves).
Power plays — Minnesota 1 for 5; Kenai River 0 for 3.
