The Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears 5-2 on Thursday in North American Hockey League play at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
The loss officially eliminates the Brown Bears from the playoff chase and means the team’s playoff drought reaches five seasons.
Kenai River falls to 21-28-3-3 and has 48 points. The Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets have 59 points. The Bears have five games remaining, and each win counts for two points, so it is impossible for Kenai River to catch Janesville in the race for the Midwest Division’s final slot.
Fairbanks improves to 34-15-3-3 and now has an eight-point lead on the Minnesota Magicians for first place in the division. The Ice Dogs, winners of six straight and eight of nine, also are now in sole possession of fourth place in the NAHL.
The Ice Dogs also take a 6-1 lead in the Ravn Cup, the seasonlong battle for supremacy between Alaska’s two junior hockey teams. With five games remaining in the series, including 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the sports complex, Fairbanks needs just one more victory to gain possession of each of the seven Ravn Cups in existence.
The Ice Dogs started fast Thursday with goals by Luke Ciolli, Jax Murray and Brenden MacLaren for a 3-0 lead after one period.
The Bears cut it to 3-2 in the second. Markuss Komuls scored on assists from Andy Walker and Eagle River’s Zach Krajnik. Michael Spethmann scored on an assist from Walker.
But Fairbanks won the third period 2-0 to close out the game.
The Bears fall to 3-2-0-1 on this home stand.
