The Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears 6-2 on Friday night in North American Hockey League action at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
The Bears had a 2-1 lead late in the second period before giving up five unanswered goals.
Kenai River head coach Taylor Shaw said the inconsistency was disappointing, particularly in front of a full house of fans.
“We just have to be more detailed in our game,” he said.
The Bears fell to 8-9-1-0, good for 17 points and sixth place in the Midwest Division. Kenai River has had the lead in six of the team’s 10 losses.
The Minnesota Wilderness lead the division with 24 points, while the four teams are tied for second with 18 — the Anchorage Wolverines, Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets, Wisconsin Windigo and Fairbanks Ice Dogs (7-7-1-3).
The Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel are in seventh with 16 points, while the Springfield (Illinois) Jr. Blues are in last with 14 points.
After a scoreless first period, Kyle Rohrer got Fairbanks on the board with 18:00 left in the second period.
Dylan Contreras, assisted by Roope Tuomioksa and Kotaro Tsutsumi, tied the game with a power-play goal with 10:11 left in the second.
Joseph Yoon, assisted by Hayden Walters and Joe Manning, then put the Bears up 2-1 with 8:57 left in the second.
“Joseph Yoon got his first (NAHL) goal and had a nice effort overall,” Shaw said.
David Clarke then tied it headed to the third.
Cole Burke and Jake Cameron scored in the first two minutes of the third period for the Ice Dogs. With 13:20 left, Rohrer added another tally.
“They were all turnovers in our own end,” Shaw said of the start to the third. “Both teams were exchanging chances in the first two periods, but we shot ourselves in the foot in the start of the third.
“To be down 5-2 with 13 minutes left is a tough blow.”
Ian Norkevicus added a late goal for the Ice Dogs.
Tyler Krivtsov had 26 saves for the Ice Dogs, while Conor Sullivan stopped 15 for the Bears.
The same two teams play Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the sports complex.
