The Fairbanks Ice Dogs fell behind early and couldn’t catch up to the Alaska Avalanche.rnrnThe Avalanche (12-3-4) rode a three-goal first period to a 4-2 win over their North American Hockey League West Division rival on Friday night in Wasilla.

The Fairbanks Ice Dogs couldn’t go goal-for-goal with the Alaska Avalanche on Saturday night, as the Ice Dogs fell 4-3 in Wasilla.rn

In a game that lacked continuity, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs got a shootout win from two identical plays.rnrnForwards Jared Larson and Johan Skinnars each sent pucks past Alaska Avalanche goalie Landon Peterson’s high glove side to give Fairbanks a 2-1 shootout edge and a 5-4 victory Friday night in Wasilla.

Fairbanks defenseman Josh Nelson registered three assists as the Ice Dogs skated to a two-game sweep over Wichita Falls. On Friday, the Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., native tallied a pair of assists in a 5-2 victory. The next night, the 20-year-old assisted on Kyle Politz’s game-winning goal as the Ice Dogs downed the Wildcats, 7-2. He was also a plus-4 on the weekend.rnrn“Josh is a skilled defenseman who has the ability to be a game-changer,” said Ice Dogs head coach Josh Hauge. “He’s really stepped up his defensive play, too.”

A North Pole teen lit the lamp in his first Junior A game, a Swede had a breakout performance, and there was no shortage of goals or fisticuffs at the Big Dipper Ice Arena Saturday night.rnrnAmid the busy night, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated the Wichita Falls Wildcats 7-2 in a North American Hockey League contest.

Jared Larson spent the past week with a chip on his shoulder, but scoring three goals certainly seemed to cheer him up.rnrnThe Fairbanks Ice Dogs forward notched his second hat trick of the season as Fairbanks defeated the Wichita Falls Wildcats 5-2 on Friday night at the Big Dipper Ice Arena.

The Fairbanks Ice Dogs built an early three-goal lead and survived a late rally from the Kenai River Brown Bears to beat their North American Hockey League West Division rival 3-2 on Saturday night in Soldotna.

“It’s a disappointing effort,” Fairbanks coach Josh Hauge said by phone. “We got outworked, we got outhit and their top players were playing better than our top players.”