The Shreveport Mudbugs (35-8-3-2) fell late in a tight contest, 3-2 to the NAHL-best Fairbanks Ice Dogs Friday night at Geoges Pond in Hirsch Coliseum.
Fairbanks grabbed the game’s first goal when Samuel Ruffin tapped one in from the far side on a cross ice pass from Luke Orysiuk on the PP to give the Ice Dogs the early 1-0 lead at 6:09 of the 1st period. The Ice Dogs would take a 1-0 lead into the locker room after one period of play.
After trailing 2-0 late in the 2nd period, Derek Contessa gave the Bugs life as he tipped home his fourth goal of the year in front of the net cutting the lead in half, 2-1 at 15:23 of the 2nd. Jonatan Asplund and Nikolai Jenson would grab the assists on Contessa’s goal. Then Jay Feiwell was able to bang in a juicy rebound on the short side for his seventh goal of the year and put the home crowd into a frenzy tying the game up at 2 at 19:13. Brendan VanSweden would get the only assist on Feiwell’s goal. It was a 2-2 contest after two periods of play.
The game stayed tied 2-2 as both teams traded quality scoring chances in the third period. The resilient Ice Dogs would net the game winner as Jake Borgida shot it from the slot through traffic as it found its way into the back of the net at 13:22. .
Fairbanks holds off Shreveport, 3-2 ending the Bugs’ home win streak in The George at 14 games. With the victory, the Ice Dogs improved their win streak to 24 games
The Mudbugs and Ice Dogs conclude their two-game set tomorrow night at Georges Pond in Hirsch Coliseum. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:11pm.