During a four-day stretch, the Avs nearly upset the North American Hockey League South Division leading Wichita Falls Wildcats twice, saw their franchise-record 18-game losing streak come to and end and split a two-game series with Texas, the team Alaska is trying to jump in the NAHL South Division playoff race.
On Sunday, Alaska saw its play range from stagnant to brilliant to apparently exhausted during a 6-2 loss to Texas at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena on Sunday.
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But other than that 1-minute and 35 second first-period stretch and their offensive freeze in the second period, and the Avs put more pressure on the opponent’s net than they have all season.
Alaska registered a season-high 42 shots in the loss, a total that included 20 shots in the third period.
“We’ve got to bury the pucks, that’s all there is to it,” Alaska head coach Jamie Smith said after the game.
The South Division foes combined for a mind-boggling 90 shots in the wide-open game. Texas had 14 or more shots in each period, including 18 in the first.
“We tried to exploit their defense. They’re a little weak on defense, so we went after them a little bit,” Smith said. “Therefore, it opens the game up a little bit. That’s why they had so many shots on net.”
Alaska was led offensively once again by its second line — forwards Kyle Politz, Jeremiah Dargis and Adam — a unit that has been absolutely on fire since Smith brought the speedy trio together a week ago.
Politz scored in the first period for Alaska and assisted on Dargis’ third-period goal.
“They brought it again tonight,” Smith said. “They played unbelievable.”
Dargis has now registered at least a point in his last five games, recording four goals and three assists during that stretch, and Politz has two goals and four assists during a four-game streak.
Friese, a Wasilla High School senior who rejoined the Avs after the prep season, also has a goal and an assist in the last three games.
“We have a lot of speed on our line,” Politz said. “Dargis is a great player, Friese is a great player. We find each other on the ice. It’s been fun.”
Smith said Politz, Dargis and Friese simply work well together.
“They do. There’s all that speed, and Adam really kind of settles them down. He passes the puck really well,” Smith said. “When you’ve got two go-to guys and a guy that passes the puck really well, you’re going to get a heck of a lot of chances.”
Two of those blossoming stars, Friese and Politz, hooked up in the first period to put Alaska on the scoreboard. Midway through the period, after taking a pass from defenseman Jason Cohen, Friese skated forward and flipped the puck up to Politz, who deflected the shot into the upper shelf of the net. Friese managed to make the nearly perfect pass despite having a Texas defenseman right in his face.
“He’s a playmaker,” Politz said. “He always finds someone on the ice. It’s great having him on my line.”
Politz set up Dargis, another player with Wasilla hockey roots, midway through the third. With possession of the puck behind the Texas goal, Politz sent a centering pass forward to the former WHS hockey standout, who chipped a shot with the back of his blade into the net.
The Politz-Dargis-Friese line has accounted for six goals in the last four games, and could have inflated that total against the Tornado.
Politz had a pair of chances on what was virtually an open net. In the final minute of the first period, Texas defenseman Tyler Bowman had to use his right leg to stop a Politz shot from hitting an open net after Tornado goalie Thomas Callaghan was caught out of position.
Midway through the third, Politz nearly burned Callaghan after the Texas netminder left the crease.
After the speedy Politz blazed through the Texas defense, Callaghan came out to challenge the Alaska forward. When the pair met between the circles, Politz got past Callaghan with the puck. Texas forward Sam Goodwin came in to break up the play, knocked Politz off balance and Politz wasn’t able to get a shot on the wide open net.
“They probably had 10 quality shots on net,” Smith said of the Politz-Dargis-Friese line.
Alaska’s second line has also been sturdy on the defensive side of the ice. In the last three games, Politz has a +5 plus-minus rating, Dargis is a +3 and Friese is a +2.
Mike Cifelli and Ben Van Lare each beat Alaska starting goaltender Nathan Corey within a 39-second span to give Texas the early 2-0 lead. Adam Mitchell was credited with Texas’ third goal in 95 seconds. But after Mitchell bounced a shot off Corey’s chest, the puck was inadvertently knocked in the net by an Alaska player and the Tornado’s lead blew to 3-0.
After beating Texas 4-2 on Friday, a victory that snapped Alaska’s 18-game losing streak, the Avs were presented with an opportunity to sweep the Tornado and move a step closer toward earning the South Division’s fourth and final playoff spot. But with the win, Texas strengthened its lead over the Avs.
Texas (20-31-4) now has 44 points, while fifth-place Alaska (16-33-3) has 35.
“We need to win out,” Smith said. “We’ve got to beat Alexandria both games. We’ve got to go up to Fairbanks and win, which is going to be a task.”
Alaska has just six games left in the regular season. The Avs host Alexandria on Friday and Saturday, and travel to Fairbanks for a pair of two-game sets on consecutive weeks later this month.
Even though the Avs have had a rough stretch, the team’s not conceding and working through the learning curve.
“We’re a young team, probably the youngest team in the league,” said Politz, who will turn 19 years old on March 16. “It’s a learning experience because we’re so young.”
Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.
Texas 6, Alaska 2
Sunday, Menard Memorial Arena
Texas 3-2-1—6
Alaska 1-0-1—2
First period — 1. Texas- Cifelli (Roadhouse, Zawacki) 5:20, 2. Texas- Van Lare (unassisted) 5:59, 3. Texas- Mitchell (Roadhouse) 6:55, 4. Alaska- Politz (Friese, Cohen) 14:10.
Second period — 5. Texas- Kruse (Fuller, O’Conner) 11:10, 6. Texas- Van Lare (Goodwin, Fuller) 18:22, 7. Texas- Bengtson (Bullis, Puente) 6:57, 8. Alaska- Dargis (Politz, Zierden) 13:43.
Shots on goal: Texas 18-14-16—48, Alaska 19-2-21—42; Saves: Texas Callaghan 18-2-20—40, Alaska- Corey 1-x-x—1, Sidor 14-12-15—41; Power plays: Texas 0-for-1, Alaska 0-for-6; Penalties: Texas 7-for-14, Alaska 4-for-8.
Comments
1 comment(s)Lucas wrote on Mar 4, 2008 5:38 AM:
They have the speed and ability to score. They backcheck hard, they are on the PP and should be on the PK. A line of rookies playing like vets are setting the pace. Good job guys, you are tons of fun to watch. "