Avalanche snap losing skid with win over Southern Minnesota

The Alaska Avalanche snapped a five-game losing skid with a 3-2 win over the Southern Minnesota Express at the Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna, Minn., on Saturday.

Alaska blueliner Kevin Anger, a former member of the Express, stood out in his return to Owatonna with a goal and an assist.

Anger gave the Avs the early lead, scoring at the 1 minute and 55 second mark of the first period.

Midway through the third, Anger fed Alaska forward Tyler Currier with a pass, and Currier posted the game-winner.

A pair of new additions to the Avalanche roster factored in on the game-tying goal in the second period.

Forward Scott Barrera scored with 43 seconds left in the second period to tie the score at 2-2. Defenseman Kent Detlefsen grabbed the assist on the play.

Both Barrera and Detlefsen were signed earlier this month.

Alex Rasmussen and Larry Kincaid also tallied assists in the game.

Dusan Sidor stopped 31 shots, and earned the win in the Avalanche goal.

Alaska improved to 2-5-1 with the win. The Avs had lost five straight.

Alaska, a team currently on a 10-game, 27-day road trip, meets the Express again today at 5 p.m.

— Jeremiah Bartz

Alaska 3, Southern Minnesota 2

Saturday

First period — 1. Alaska- K. Anger (A. Rasmussen) 1:55, 2. So. Minn.- B. Arrigoni (R. Spalding, B. Schneider) 6:06, 3. So. Minn.- B. Brodhag (J. Singer, G. Ellena) 13:34.

Second period — 4. Alaska- S. Barrera (L. Kincaid, K. Detlefson) 0:43.

Third period — 5. Alaska- T. Çurrier (K. Anger) 12:33.

Shots on goal: Alaska 7-9-9—25, So. Minn. 10-13-10—33; Saves: Alaska- Sidor 8-13-10—31, So. Minn.- Graves 6-8-8—22; Power plays: Alaska 0-for-6, So. Minn. 0-for-4; Penalties: Alaska 4-for-8, So. Minn. 6-for-12.