Wild earn 3-game sweep

WENATCHEE, Wash. - For the first time in their history, the Wenatchee Wild swept a 3-game series from the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. The Wild finished off the 3-game sweep Saturday when they defeated the Ice Dogs in a shootout, 4-3.

"I'm pretty proud of the boys," said Wenatchee Wild associate head coach Tom Rudrud. "They played very hard and as a team. A lot of guys made sacrifices that showed us that they're really committed to team success."

Devin Loe staked the Ice Dogs to an early lead 99 seconds into regulation when he redirected Jayson Angus' shot from the right wing into the cage. Colton Wolter also assisted on the goal, which gave the Ice Dogs their first lead in this weekend's 3-game series.

Jono Davis tied the game for the Wild, 1-1, less than two minutes into the second frame. Moments after the Wild killed off a Fairbanks power play, defenseman Blake Butzow set up the goal with a long send away pass down the center of the ice to Davis, who scored on a breakaway with a forehand-to-backhand move.

The Ice Dogs came right back, reclaiming the lead, 2-1, a little over a minute after Davis scored when Jacob Hetz notched a short-handed breakaway goal that started with a steal at his own blue line.

The Wild tied up the score, 2-2, with 4:05 left in the second stanza when Jacob Barber received a feather pass from Chris Kerr and lit the lamp on a wrist shot that sailed over the right shoulder of netminder Steve Perry. Josh Hartley also picked up an assist on the goal.

Wenatchee earned its first lead in the game 4:36 into the third period. Trace Redmond started the play with a hard slap shot from the top of the near faceoff circle, and Trevor Stewart did the rest, grinding for the score on a short rebound.

The goal was Stewart's first of the series.