Ice Dogs drop season-opener in shootouts

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Friday served as a fresh start for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs with their 2021-22 season-opener, looking to get the taste of last season out of their mouth - which ended with the Minnesota Magicians hugging and dog piling in celebration after victory.

Unfortunately, Friday night ended with the Minnesota Magicians hugging and dog piling in celebration after 4-3 shootout victory over Fairbanks.

Minnesota came out of the gates simply sharper, netting the first two goals of the game by the end of the first period. With a new season comes new players scoring their first Ice Dog goal - which Dakota Macintosh, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, experienced at 4:29 in the second period to trim the lead to one.

Veteran Zachary Murray - who has done it before with the Ice Dogs - scored an unassisted shorthander to tie the game less two minutes into the start of the third. The Magicians responded six minutes later to grab the lead again, but Alexander Malinowski, of Linkoping, Sweden, scored the equalizer on the power play opportunity about halfway through the final frame where the game was eventually sent to a scoreless overtime.

The Ice Dogs were unable to get one past the netminder in shootouts, while Minnesota was successful on both chances to secure the victory. Fairbanks will look for revenge, and their first win, when the two teams go at it again Saturday.