Alaska’s streak is history

WASILLA — It's over. Alaska's losing streak is finally over.

With a 4-2 win over the Texas Tornado on Saturday at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena, the Alaska Avalanche earned their first victory since Jan. 4 and snapped their franchise-record 18-game losing skid.

Four players hailing from the 49th state, Kyle Pichler, Jeremiah Dargis, Jason Cohen and Tyler Currier, each scored for the Avs, and Alaska improved to 16-32-3 overall.

With a Pichler goal in the first period and a Dargis score in the second, Alaska held a 2-0 advantage after 40 minutes of hockey. Alaska head coach Jamie Smith said grabbing the early lead and holding it was huge for a young Alaska team that features just three players in their final year of junior hockey eligibility.

“We finished; that was the key,” Smith said. “That’s going to be a key thing for us, to get that lead and finish it.

“It’s a little education for us,” Smith said. “We can look ahead to tomorrow, and if we win tomorrow we’re only down five points.

With three points — Alaska also earned one point in an overtime loss on Thursday — in the last three days, the Avs have 35 points and are only seven points behind Texas, the team that currently holds the fourth and final playoff berth from the North American Hockey League's South Division.

Alaska could move a step closer to playoff contention with a win over Texas today at the Menard Arena. The first puck is slated to drop at 4 p.m.

Alaska netminder Dusan Sidor stopped 41 shots in the win, and all 17 Texas attempts he faced in the second period.

“Our goaltending was fantastic tonight,” Smith said.

Smith also praised the play of his second line — Dargis, Adam Friese, and Kyle Politz — most notably Politz, who recorded a pair of assists in the win.

“He was the best player on the rink tonight,” Smith said.

Alaska 4, Texas 2

Saturday, Menard Arena

Texas 0-2-2—2

Alaska 1-1-1—2

First period — 1. Alaska- Pichler (Currier) 14:48.

Second period — 2. Alaska- Dargis (Politz) 4:53.

Third period — 3. Texas- Goodwin (VanLare, Hoffmann) 8:11, 4. Alaska- Cohen (Rasmussen, Politz) pp 9:32, 5. Alaska- Currier (Young, Pichler) 10:30, 6. Texas- O’Conner (unassisted) 11:01.

Shots on goal: Texas 10-17-18—45, Alaska 14-12-10—36; Saves: Texas- Callaghan 13-11-8—36, Alaska- Sidor 10-17-16—41; Power plays: Texas 0-for-5, Alaska 1-for-6; Penalties: Texas 10-for-28, Alaska 7-for-22.