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FAIRBANKS — The Fairbanks Ice Dogs were held scoreless for the final two periods as they fell 3-1 to the Kenai River Brown Bears in a North American Hockey League West Division game Friday night in Soldotna.

“It’s a disappointing effort,” Fairbanks coach Josh Hauge said by phone. “We got outworked, we got outhit and their top players were playing better than our top players.”

The Ice Dogs dropped to 6-7-1, while the Brown bears improved to 4-12-1.

Fairbanks’ sluggish play concerned Hauge.

“I feel like right now we’re doing the bare minimum to win the hockey game, and that’s not going to do it,” he said.

Fairbanks defenseman Brock Carlston opened the scoring with 4 minutes, 59 seconds remaining in the first period.

It was the first NAHL goal for Carlston, who joined the team before last weekend’s home series against the Wenatchee Wild.

Kenai forward Brad Duwe tied the game with 3:05 left in the second period, and forward Dajon Mingo got the eventual game-winner — a shorthanded goal with 9:26 to go in the third period.

Doug Beck capped the Brown Bears’ scoring with 6:50 remaining in the game.

Fairbanks goalie Erick Cinotti got his first start with the team and made 33 saves.

“He didn’t win us the game and he didn’t lose us the game,” Hauge said. “He made some saves for us tonight, and the loss isn’t on him.”

Kenai River goalie Mike Martin stopped 34 shots to get the win.

Contact staff writer Joshua Armstrong at 459-7583.