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FAIRBANKS AVOIDS ELIMINATION WITH 3-1 WIN
Fairbanks held Topeka at bay Friday to force a Game 5 on Sunday.
(TOPEKA, KS) - The Fairbanks Ice Dogs proved they weren't quite ready to return to the Last Frontier, as they put together a 3-1 win on Friday to force a decisive Game 5 on Sunday.
The first period saw Fairbanks get the first goal for the fourth time in as many games when Andrew McCabe slipped in a backhander from in the crease after Bryce Merriam had turned aside a nice scoring chance but the rebound bounced behind him where McCabe spun around to bury it and grab a 1-0 lead. In the second period, Topeka came out with renewed vigor and outshot the 'Dogs 15-4 but were unable to get by Ice Dogs goalie and Miami of Ohio recruit Cody Reichard. In the third period, Ryan Santana drove for a puck behind the RoadRunner goal line and was able to pull it back out front quickly where McCabe potted his second of the game for a 2-0 lead. Fairbanks put a stranglehold on the game at 8:40 of the third as Arthur Bidwill picked the top corner through a screen on a 5-on-3 power play for a 3-0 lead. Topeka got on the board at 18:45 when Dennis Brown blasted a power play goal down low past Reichard, but it was too little, too late as the Ice Dogs live to fight another day.
Game 5 is Sunday at 5:05 pm. The winner will face Mahoning Valley at 3:00 pm on Wednesday in St. Louis. The loser will mark the end of an otherwise successful season.
