Ice Dogs Need Shootout to Get Past Chicago, 3-2

John Byce scored the deciding goal in a shootout Sunday night as the Long Beach Ice Dogs beat the Chicago Wolves, 3-2, to improve 18-5-0--the best record in the International Hockey League.

Patrik Augusta, the IHL’s leading scorer, also scored in the shootout for Long Beach. Steve Larouche was the only player for Chicago (12-5-4) to score in the shootout.

After the Wolves took a 2-0 lead, the Ice Dogs tied it on a power-play goal by Doug Ast in the first period and a goal by Mike Jickling at 13:06 of the second period, his first.

Long Beach goalie Ryan Bach improved to 3-0-0 by turning away 31 of Chicago’s 33 shots as well as four of five in the shootout. Chicago goalie Pat Jablonski had 29 saves in regulation.

The game was the third in three days for the Ice Dogs, who play again Wednesday night at Milwaukee against the Admirals.