The Fairbanks Ice Dogs jumped out to a two goal lead, before falling 4-3 in a shootout to the Shreveport Mud Bugs on day one of the 2018 North American Hockey League Showcase Tournament. The Dogs are rewarded with a point for the effort, and sit at 0-2-0-1 on the season.
Fairbanks native Ty Proffitt opened the scoring, when he snapped a wrist shot low blocker passed Mud Bug net minder Leo Chuard at 9:37 of the first period. Fellow Alaskan Tanner Edwards was credited with the primary assist on the play.
With less than a minute to play in the first, Ice Dog defenseman Jake Borgida fired a pass out of his own zone that found the tape of a streaking Jax Murray in the neutral zone. Murray carried the puck briefly before sending a laser from the top of the right circle that found the back of the net with 33 seconds to play in the period, staking the Dogs to a 2-0 lead after the first stanza.
Shreveport responded with a pair of goals in the second to knot things up at 2 at 13:30 of the frame. Just over three minutes later, Martin Jonnson scored from the high slot, while on the power play, to put the Dogs back on top 3-2. The Mud Bugs scored the lone goal of the third period, as Matt Stoia lit the lamp shortly after the Dogs had killed a Dylan Abbott hooking minor.
Following a scoreless overtime, the teams went to a shootout, where Mud Bugs Connor Witherspoon and Stoia tallied goals, while Ice Dogs Luke Mobley and Murray were unable to find the back of the net.
The Mud Bugs outshot the Ice Dogs 32-19 through regulation and overtime.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Dogs as they will be back on the Ice at 10:30 Thursday morning to face the Minnesota Wilderness, who fell 4-1 to the Johnstown Tomahawks on day one of the tournament.
