The visiting Kenai River Brown Bears lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets on Thursday in North American Hockey League play.
The Bears stay in Janesville today and Saturday for games at 4 p.m. AKST.
Kenai River rolled up a 45-25 advantage on shots and came back from a 3-1 deficit after the first period, but in the end the Bears had one point to show for the effort.
Kenai River has gone to extra time in five of its last eight games, but has only came out of the extra play with two points once during that stretch.
“It’s tough,” Kenai River interim head coach Taylor Shaw said. “You can look at it two ways. It’s nice to get points on the road, but it also leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. Hopefully, we can come back and start turning one into two.”
Shaw did say his team looked a lot better after taking 5-2 and 6-1 losses to the Minnesota Magicians coming out of Christmas break.
Janesville is 13-17-0-1, good for seventh place in the Midwest Division, while the Bears are in last place at 7-21-2-2.
The Jets got goals from AJ Casperson, Arsenii Smekhnow and Cy LeClerc in the first period, while the Bears got a Bryce Monrean goal, assisted by Gramm McCormack and Cole Dubicki. Shaw said allowing two goals in the last minute of the period was costly.
Kenai River then used special teams to claw its way back into the game.
In the second period, Kaden Hjelm, assisted by Carter Green and Kevin Marx Noren, scored. With 3:28 left in regulation, Caden Triggs, assisted by Dubicki and Marx Noren, tied up the game. Dubicki is now third in the league with 40 points.
Kenai River has been on a roll with the power play lately.
“I think the biggest change is we are getting to better spots in front of the net where guys can be more effective,” Shaw said of the power play.
In the shootout, the first three players missed for both teams. After Marx Noren missed in the fourth round for Kenai River, Jan Lasak got the game-winner for the Jets.
Thursday
Jets 4, Brown Bears 3, SO
Kenai River 1 1 1 0 0 —3
Janesville 3 0 0 0 1 —4
First period — 1. Janesville, Casperson (Keryluk, Kring), 6:35; 2. Kenai River, Monrean (McCormack, Dubicki), 11:10; 3. Janesville, Smekhnov (Gustavsson, Newton), 19:01; 4. Janesville, LeClerc (Troutwine), 19:35. Penalties — none.
Second period — 5. Kenai River, Hjelm (Green, Marx Noren), pp, 12:14. Penalties — Kenai River 3 for 6:00; Janesville 3 for 6:00.
Third period — 6. Kenai River, Triggs (Dubicki, Marx Noren), pp, 16:22. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00; Janesville 1 for 2:00.
Shots on goal — Kenai River 16-13-13-3—45; Janesville 7-6-9-3—25.
Goalies — Kenai River, Aitken (25 shots, 22 saves); Janesville, D’Orazio (45 shots, 42 saves).
Power plays — Kenai River 2 for 3; Janesville 0 for 4.
