Gordon stops 35 to keep Fairbanks IceDogs alive

Fairbanks Ice Dogs denied the Janesville Jets a sweep in its Best of Five North American Hockey League Midwest Division final series on home ice and the Minnesota Wilderness grabbed control of its Central Division Series with a 4-1 win against host Aberdeen Wings in action on Friday (May 5, 2017).

The Jets carried a 2-0 series lead into Alaska, but the IceDogs fought back with a 3-1 edge at the Big Dipper Ice Arena in Fairbanks despite a 36-20 edge on the shot clock for the Jets.

Meanwhile, Nick Altmann scored his first two goals of the post season to pace the Wilderness to a 4-1 win in Game Three of its series against the Wings at Odde Ice Center in Aberdeen. Teams split the first two games of the series in Cloquet, MN the previous weekend.

Jets 1 at Ice Dogs 3

A 35-save effort by Eric Gordon led the Fairbanks squad to its first win in three playoff tries against the Jets. His efforts, along with a goal by Ryan Kero helped the Ice Dogs carry a 1-0 lead out of the opening period despite being outshot by a 15-6 margin.

The host team held an 8-7 edge in shots through the middle period and padded its lead with goals from Erkka Vanska and Cayden Cahill.

Jack Gates finally found an opening past Gordon to get the Jets on the board with 6:46 to play, but that was as close as the Jets would get in this one. Jacob Barczewski made 17 saves in goal for the Jets.

The Jets will get another chance to capture the Midwest Division crown in Game 4 at Fairbanks on Saturday (May 6).

Wilderness 4 at Wings 1

The Wilderness couldn’t have started out any quicker at Aberdeen, Altmann notching his first of two just five seconds into contest.

Tim Nicksic added his sixth of the post season just past the halfway mark as the Wilderness carried a 2-0 lead into the second period.

Altmann and Luke Dow scored five minutes apart in the second half of the middle period to widen the gap to 4-0 and Colin Raver finally got the home team on the board with 2:19 to play in the contest, shattering the shutout bid of Luke Kania who made 30 saves in goal for the Wilderness.

Forbes Ploszaj turned in a 23-save effort for the Wings.

The Wilderness will be looking to capture the Central Division title in Game 4 to at the Odde Ice Center on Saturday (May 6).