FAIRBANKS — It was a case of too little, too late for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs against the host Wenatchee Wild on Friday night in the first game of the North American Hockey League West Division Championship Series.rnrnIt took 47 minutes, 49 seconds into the opener of the best-of-five series before the Ice Dogs recorded their first goal. By then, Wenatchee was up 5-0 on the way to a 6-2 victory in Wenatchee, Wash.

Fairbanks emerged with a 4-2 victory in Friday’s third game of the best-of-five first-round series after the Avalanche of Wasilla grabbed a 2-1 lead in the first period.

Thanks to their power play on Saturday, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs are in position to sweep the Alaska Avalanche.rnrnThe Ice Dogs used three power-play goals to key a 6-4 win over the Avalanche that gives them a commanding 2-0 lead in their opening-round North American Hockey League playoff series.

FAIRBANKS – The Fairbanks Ice Dogs didn’t let a game-tying goal by the Alaska Avalanche in the final minute of regulation rattle them Friday night in Wasilla.rnrnThe Ice Dogs responded with a power-play goal from Matt Millis 43 seconds into overtime to grab a 2-1 victory in the opener of a North American Hockey League West Division first-round series.

FAIRBANKS — At least the Fairbanks Ice Dogs don’t have to beat the Wenatchee Wild to qualify for the Robertson Cup championship tournament.rnrnBut after getting swept Friday and Saturday night by the Wild, the Ice Dogs lost their bid for home ice advantage against the Alaska Avalanche in the first round of next week’s North American Hockey League West Division playoffs.

FAIRBANKS — The Fairbanks Ice Dogs no longer control their own destiny — but that doesn’t concern them much.rnrnTheir bid to have home-ice advantage for the first round of the upcoming North American Hockey League postseason suffered a blow Friday night at the Big Dipper Ice Arena in a 4-1 loss to the Wenatchee Wild.

Fairbanks forward Aaron McGill connected for a goal and two assists as the Ice Dogs skated to a two-game sweep over Wichita Falls. On Friday, the Salem, Ore., native netted a goal and an assist in a 5-3 victory. The next night, the 20-year-old picked up another assist as the Ice Dogs downed the Wildcats outdoors, 3-2.

FAIRBANKS — From the makeshift bleachers to the hot tub and the beer garden, Fairbanks Ice Dogs fans flocked to the second annual Outdoor Game — and used a variety of strategies to keep warm in single-digit temperatures.