The Kenai River Brown Bears put little stock in the rankings and played with confidence against the #1 seed from the Midwest Division Janesville Jets, defeating Janesville 4-3 on Saturday to take the first-round playoff series three games to one.
Kenai River advances to the Midwest Division finals to face the Minnesota Magicians; Minnesota upset the #2 seed Fairbanks Ice Dogs in three, straight games in the first-round pairing.
The Brown Bears record their first playoff series victory in seven playoff appearances.
The Brown Bears and Magicians open the Midwest Division finals on Friday and Saturday, June 4-5 at the Magicians home Richfield Ice Arena in Richfield, Minnesota. Game times scheduled for 4 p.m. Alaska time.
Midwest Division First-Round Recap
Leading the series 2-0, The #4 seed Kena1 River battled #1 Janesville at the Bears’ relocated home arena in Blaine, Minnesota.
Kenai River 1 – Janesville 6 Game 3
The Brown Bears managed only a single, first period goal by Theo Thrun, which gave Kenai River a 1-0 lead. The Jets responded with six, unanswered goals for the 6-1 victory. Janeville closed the playoff gap to Kenai River 2- Janesville 1.
Kenai River 4 – Janesville 3 Game 4
Janesville opened a 3-1 first period lead over the Brown Bears, with Kenai River’s Brandon McNamara netting the Bears first goal.
Kenai River closed to 3-2 in the second period on a goal by Max Helgeson.
In the third period, Lucas Wahlin scored to tie the game at 3-3 with 10:05 remaining. Peter Morgan lit the lamp for the Brown Bear victory and series win with 3:34 remaining in regulation time.
Series Note:
Kenai River defeated Janesville 6-4 and 5-1 in Janesville in games one and two of the Midwest Division series.
