Wilderness Gain One Point in 3-Game Series in Fairbanks
January 27, 2025 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Minnesota Wilderness News Release
An overtime loss Friday resulted in the only point the Minnesota Wilderness gained in this weekend's 3-game series in Fairbanks, AK. The Fairbanks Ice Dogs (24-7-5) won 3-2, in Thursday's opening game, 3-2 again Friday in overtime and 5-1 in the Saturday finale.
On a positive note, the Wilderness penalty kill was perfect over the three games, going 18-for-18 in keeping the Ice Dogs' power play off the scoreboard.
The Wilderness (17-18-4) are now winless in their last six games and their record has fallen below .500. for the first time since Dec. 14.
Minnesota continues its final Alaska trip of the 24-25 season next weekend in Soldotna, AK, with a 2-game series vs. the Kenai River Brown Bears.
Thursday: Fairbanks 3, Wilderness 2
After entering the third period 3-0, the Wilderness got back into the contest with an early goal in the final frame. Noah Dziver notched his 10th of the season 36 seconds into the period to make the score 3-1. Logan Nagle and Owen Smith assisted on Dziver's 10th of the season.
Zach Homer added one more with less than five seconds to play. His 16th of the season was helped by Payton Struck and Jakeb Lynch.
Those tallies came on the heels of a period in which the Wilderness controlled the play, outshooting the Ice Dogs 13-6. For the game, Fairbanks finished with a 35-26 shot advantage.
The Ice Dogs had two goals from Gage Leonard and one from former Wilderness Luca Ricciardi.
Nick Erickson suffered the loss in goal with 32 saves. Charlie Menard earned the win for Fairbanks, stopping 24 Minnesota shots.
Both teams finished scoreless on the power play, with the Wilderness getting three chances and Fairbanks with five.
Friday: Fairbanks 3, Wilderness 2 (OT)
For the second straight night, Fairbanks had a lead going into the third period after keeping the Wilderness scoreless in the first two stanzas. However, on this night, the Wilderness managed to tie the game.
Zach Homer and Frantisek Netusil each scored late power play goals to even the score, 2-2. Noah Dziver assisted on both markers. Homer deposited his 17th of the season with 5:44 left, while Netusil scored his 20th with 1:48 remaining.
The Wilderness had another chance with the man-advantage during the overtime period. Fairbanks' Luc Plante was called for high-sticking late in the third period that carried into the extra frame. This time, however, Minnesota could not convert and Plante ended up scoring the game-winner on a breakaway moments after exiting the penalty box.
Caden Pendo and Cole Burke also scored for the Ice Dogs.
Nick Erickson had another busy night, facing 42 shots and making 39 saves. The Ice Dogs outshot the Wilderness, 42-22. Mason McElroy was the winning goaltender for Fairbanks making 20 saves.
Minnesota was strong on special teams, going 2-for-6 on the power play, and keeping Fairbanks scoreless on the man-advantage on eight chances.
Saturday: Fairbanks 5, Wilderness 1
Minnesota outshot the Ice Dogs, 37-28 in the final contest of the 3-game set, but was limited to just one goal. Nate Murray scored his 13 th of the season late in the second period when he completed a 2-on-0 short-handed breakaway with Lucas Jendek. Zach Howard also assisted on the goal, which came with 15 seconds left in the middle frame and cut Fairbanks' lead to 3-1.
The Ice Dogs had two markers from Cam Van Sickle, along with single goals from Caden Pendo, Gage Leonard and Luc Plante.
Charlie Menard earned the win for the Ice Dogs, making 36 saves. Wilderness goaltender Valdemar Andersen suffered the loss stopping 19 on 24 shots. He was replaced by Nick Erickson after Fairbanks scored its fourth goal of the game with 13:14 left in the third period. Erickson turned aside all three shots he faced.
Murray's goal was the only special teams tally of the game. On the power play, the Wilderness finished 0-for-6 and Fairbanks went 0-for-5.
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North American Hockey League Stories from January 27, 2025
- Wilderness Gain One Point in 3-Game Series in Fairbanks - Minnesota Wilderness
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