“It was a good hockey game, well played by both sides,” Stewart added.

The Midwest-leading Ice Dogs prevailed 3-2, as center Adam Anderson delivered the only conversion of the shootout, which had three players each participating.

“He started on the forehand, deked to his backhand and slid it over the goaltender’s glove. It was a nice combo,” Stewart said of Anderson’s first goal and 13th point of the season.

Springfield goaltender Tommy Nappier denied attempts by Todd Burgess and Reggie Lutz, while Fairbanks counterpart CJ Boothe turned away Joey Lupo, Anthony Scarsella and Brady Tomiak during the shootout.

Nappier ended the game with 30 saves and Boothe made 25 saves for his eighth win in 12 games this season.

Burgess, a center and the leading scorer in the Tier II Junior A league, and right wing Mitchell Baumann scored in regulation for the Ice Dogs, who improved to 35-7-3 for 73 points in the standings. 

“We struck first and they (Jr. Blues) came back,” Stewart said. “We had to battle through adversity and we kept playing hard. We got reward with a nice power-play goal in the third period.”

Fairbanks also has the best record in the NAHL, just ahead of the South Division-leading Wichita Falls (Texas) Wildcats, who are 34-9-4 for 72 points.

Baumann produced the game’s first goal at 3:57 into the first period from assists by Evan Somoza and Cameron Cook. 

Eight seconds later, Matt Long pushed the Jr. Blues toward a 2-1 lead in the period.

Long tied the score at 4:05 with help from Tomiak and Kyle Meeh, and he found the back of the net at 6:02 during a power play, aided by Brennan Biaszcak and Josh Bell.

After a scoreless second period, Burgess eventually forced overtime, and the shootout, with a power-play goal at 8:02 of the third period.

Burgess’s 28th goal and league-high 73rd point was set up by defenseman Aaron McPheters and Jakob Stridsberg, who had a goal and an assist in Friday’s 4-2 win.

Saturday’s win also gave the Ice Dogs a 4-0-0 season record against the Jr. Blues, who slipped to fourth place in the Midwest at 23-16-5 for 51 points.

Stewart will be coaching the Midwest Division team and nine Ice Dogs players will be participating in the NAHL Prospects Tournament Monday and Tuesday in Plymouth, Michigan.

The Ice Dogs are back in the Big Dipper Ice Arena on Friday and Saturday for a series against the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets, who are in third place in the Midwest at 24-13-4 for 52 points. Each game starts at 7:30 p.m.

Springfield visits the Big Dipper on Feb. 27.

The Ice Dogs swept the Jr. Blues at the Dipper on Jan. 15 and 16 by respective scores of 3-2 and 7-0.

Contact sports editor Danny Martin at 459-7586. Follow him on Twitter:

@newsminersports.