Avalanche host two-game series in Anchorage and Wasilla

ANCHORAGE — There’s no place like home. Well, maybe one place.

The Alaska Avalanche looked plenty comfortable in their temporary “home” digs Friday night, winning 2-1 in a shootout over the Kenai River Brown Bears at the Subway Sports Centre in Anchorage.

Forward Larry Kincaid scored in the sixth round of the shootout to break a 1-1 tie and led the Alaska Avalanche to its first four-game winning streak in franchise history.

Following the win, Kincaid said he had a feeling he was going to be the hero.

“I called it on the bench,” the former Houston Hawks standout said. “I told coach, ‘put me in.’”

Scott Barrera also found the net during the shootout, while Kenai River could beat Avs goalie Nathan Corey just once.

The game was a homecoming for several Avalanche skaters who grew up in Anchorage, including Corey, who turned back 36 of the 37 shots he faced to get the win.

“It was fun to come back and play in front of the home crowd,” said Corey, a southside legend who led the South High Wolverines to three consecutive Alaska class 4A state titles before joining the Avalanche.

Corey’s only real mistake of the night came late in the first period when Brown Bears defenseman Ryan Peterson whipped a wrist shot past the Alaska goalie’s outstretched glove from the blue line. Corey’s instincts got the better of him on the play, as he said he was anticipating a deflection that never came.

“There was a guy standing at about the hash marks that was trying to tip it, and I played his tip and he didn’t make contact,” he said.

Alaska head coach Jamie Smith had nothing but praise for his goalie following the game.

“Unreal,” Smith said. “That’s been the backstop of our whole team is our goaltending.”

Alaska pulled even midway through the second period on a goal produced by the team’s all-Anchorage line of Kyle Pichler, Dylan Jones and Alex Young.

Jones started the play by slipping the puck to Pichler as he and Young broke into the Kenai River zone. Pichler and Young then executed a perfect give-and-go, with Pichler beating Kenai River goalie Steven Madej for his eighth goal of the season.

Jones and Pichler played with Corey at South Anchorage, while Young spent last season playing Junior B hockey in British Columbia.

“Me and Dylan, this is our third year on the same line,” Pichler said. “Young’s a big addition to the line this year. It’s really fun, I love playing with them.”

He said coming back to the Subway Centre and playing in front of a large contingent of friends made for a special night.

“It was great. I’ve played here my whole life,” he said.

The victory marked Alaska’s second consecutive shootout win over their North American Hockey League South Division rivals and fourth victory in a row over the Bears since dropping the season-opener in Soldotna.

“It’s very important because we’re fighting for playoff spots so any wins we can get are big,” Corey said.

Corey stopped five of the six shots he faced in the shootout. He also stopped all five shots he faced last Saturday to pick up the win in Soldotna.

The win was Alaska’s fourth straight in games that have gone past regulation.

Smith said the team’s knack for winning close games is a reflection of both his team’s hard work in practice and solid attitudes on the bench.

“It’s due to the fact that we condition very well,” Smith said.

Smith praised his players for never letting up and continuing to skate hard late into games.

“We have kids that are going to come in and play hard and understand their roles when I call on them,” he said.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com

AVALANCHE 2, BROWN BEARS 1 (shootout)

Alaska 0 1 0 0 (1) — 2

Kenai River 1 0 0 0 (0) — 1

First period — 1. Kenai River- Peterson (J. Harris), 15:33.

Second period — 2. Alaska- Pichler (Young, Jones), 7:42

Third period — none.

Overtime — none.

Shootout — 3. Alaska- Kincaid.

Shots on goal: Alaska 6-8-12-3-1 — 30, Kenai River 10-14-11-2-0 — 37. Saves: Alaska- Corey 9-14-11-2 — 36, Kenai River- Madej- 6-7-12-3 — 28. Power plays: Alaska 0 for 4, Kenai River 0 for 9. Penalties: Alaska 10 for 20, Kenai River 5 for 10.