“It should be a good weekend of hockey,” Hauge said. “I know that opening weekend was unbelievable with the fan support, so hopefully, this weekend is similar because it was great.”

After getting shellacked by the Fairbanks Ice Dogs 6-1 on Friday night, the Fresno Monsters came storming back Saturday night and captured a 7-5 North American Hockey League victory in front of more than 2,000 Fairbanks faithful at the Big Dipper Ice Arena.

The Big Dipper was at its capacity. The atmosphere was electric. The Ice Dogs didn’t disappoint anyone as they rolled to a 6-1 NAHL victory Friday night at the Big Dipper Ice Arena.rnrnRead more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner – Packed house sees Fairbanks Ice Dogs beat Fresno Monst

After Saturday night’s 7-4 loss to the Wenatchee Wild, Ice Dogs coach Josh Hauge said Sunday’s three-game series finale was a “must-win” situation.

FAIRBANKS — The rivalry between the Fairbanks Ice Dogs and the Wenatchee Wild is far from dead.rnrnIn fact, it livened up quite a bit Saturday night in Wenatchee when the Wild notched a 7-4 victory in front of 2,807 fans and gave the Ice Dogs their first outright loss of the season.

The Ice Dogs used a four-goal outburst in the third period Friday night to break open a tight game and post a 5-1 North American Hockey League victory against the Wenatchee Wild in front of 2,710 spectators in Wenatchee, Wash.

Fairbanks forward JT Osborn rang up five goals and an assist as the Ice Dogs picked up five of six points.

“It was one of the more exciting games I’ve ever been involved in,” Hauge said after the Ice Dogs pulled out a 6-5 overtime win to complete a two-game sweep of the Tornado.