The Austin Bruins fell behind early and they couldn’t catch up as they lost 5-4 at Fairbanks, Alaska Friday.

The Ice Dogs (36-14 overall) scored the first four goals of the game as they led 4-0 half-way through the first period.

Austin (29-16-1 overall) bounced back to pull within 4-3 when Jay Dickman, Guillaume Leclerc and Eli May all scored second period goals, but Fairbanks scored again at the end of the second to make it 5-3.

Nick Leher had 28 saves in the loss for the Bruins, who have clinched a playoff spot, but trail Bismarck by one point in the NAHL Central Division standings.

SCORING SUMMARY

Austin 0 3 1 – 4

Fairbanks 2 3 0 – 5

First period

(F) Jacob Hetz (power play) (Chandler Madry, Doug Rose) 6:44

(F) Yannick Vedel (Hans Gorowsky, Kyle Lee) 12:26

Second period

(F) Ross Olsson (Lee, Jake Bushey) 2:04

(F) Mandry (power play) (Lee, Nick Hinz) 4:05

(A) Jay Dickman (Guillaume Leclerc, Jake Arroyo) 4:10

(A) Leclerc (Kody Reuter, Drew Anderson) 10:54

(A) Eli May (Lucas Kohls, Drew Anderson) 10:54

(F) Lee (Olsson, Ethan Somoza) 18:30

Third period

(A) Easton Viitala (May) 4:02

Shots: Austin – 35; Fairbanks – 33

Power plays: Austin – 0-for-3; Fairban