Las Vegas Thunder Defeats the Ice Dogs in a Shootout, 2-1

The Las Vegas Thunder posted its first-ever victory in nine games against the Ice Dogs, winning, 2-1, in a shootout Saturday night before 6,021 at Long Beach.

The Ice Dogs (30-15-7) pick up one point and move into a tie with the Houston Aeros for first place in the Southwest Division and a three-way tie for second in the IHL. The Thunder (23-18-5) remain in fourth place in the Southwest Division.

Long Beach’s Andrei Vasilyev scored the lone Ice Dog goal, his league-leading 29th of the season, at 2:05 of the first period on the power play with assists to Patrik Augusta and Kevin Todd.

After a scoreless second period, Las Vegas’ Jeff Christian tied the game with 5:23 remaining after redirecting Justin Kurtz’s blast from the top of the slot to send the game into a shootout.

Las Vegas’ Jesse Belanger and Patrice Lefebvre scored for the Thunder in the shootout and Thunder goalie Konstantine Simchuk stopped all four Ice Dog skaters.