Avalanche win in shootout

SOLODTNA — After one period of play Friday night, Alaska’s franchise-record winning streak looked to be in good shape against the Kenai River Brown Bears.

Seven goals later, and the streak was a distant memory.

But one night later, it was back to work on a new streak as the Avs won 2-1 in a shootout at the Soldotna Sports Center.

Tyler Currier scored in the sixth round of Saturday's shootout to seal the hard-earned win.

Kenai River's Steven Madej was masterful between the pipes, turning back 29 of the 30 shots he faced in the game, including several excellent scoing opportunities for the Avs.

"That kid played out of his mind," Alaska defenseman Kent Detlefsen said of Madej's play. "He stood on his head."

Alaska goalie Dusan Sidor put on a pretty good show of his own, making 35 saves to pick up the victory.

Kenai River opened the game by taking a 1-0 lead on Mike Sturdevant's goal less than three minutes into the contest.

Detlefsen pulled the Avs even on an unassisted goal midway through the second, carrying the puck into the Kenai River zone before slipping a wrist shot through a screen and past Madej.

The game remained 1-1 through the next period and overtime, leading to the shootout — the fifth shootout in eight games between the two teams.

"I'm feeling pretty confident going into a shootout right now," Alaska coach Jamie Smith said following Saturday's win.

The Avs are now 5-1 when the game goes to a tiebreaker, and a perfect 3-0 against the Brown Bears in shootouts.

In Friday's game the Avalanche blew a 3-0 lead and gave up seven consecutive goals as the Brown Bears roared to a 7-4 win at the Soldotna Sports Center. The win was just Kenai River’s second in seven meetings between the two Southcentral Alaska rivals. The Brown Bears’ only other win over Alaska came in the expansion team’s franchise-opener in September. Smith said the tough loss was something that could eventually prove to be a positive for his young team.

"It's going to happen every once in a while," he said.

Unlike in several stellar recent outings, Alaska goalie Nathan Corey was plenty human Friday night, stopping just 27 of the 34 shots he faced.

Alaska jumped out to the early lead behind first period goals from Joe Harren and Jeremiah Dargis, then went up 3-0 on a Kyle Pichler score to open the second period.

"We played unbelievable in the first period, and then the wheels came off," Smith said.

Nick Simson and Bryan Murphy cut the lead to 3-2 for the Brown Bears, but Alaska still held the advantage heading into the final period.

But goals by Paul Jenkins, Jeffery Harris, Garret Bossert, Murphy again and, finally, Kevin Wentland, had the Brown Bears lighting up the scoreboard in the third.

Harren’s second goal of the night with less than a minute left in the game was far too little and much too late to make much difference.

Saturday's win over Kenai River kept Alaska in fourth place, two points back of Topeka for third place in the North American Hockey League's South division and three back of Fairbanks for second.

AVALANCHE 2, BROWN BEARS 1

Saturday, Soldotna Sports Center

Alaska 0-1-0-0-1—2

Kenai River 1-0-0-0—1

First period — 1. Kenai- Sturdevant (K. Harris, J. Harris) 2:33.

Second period — 2. Alaska- Detlefsen (unassisted) 10:44.

Third period — No scoring.

Overtime — No scoring.

Shootout — 3. Currier

Shots on goal: Alaska 10-14-4-2—30, Kenai River 11-14-10-1—36; Saves: Alaska- Sidor 10-14-10-1—35, Kenai River- Madej 10-13-4-2—29; Power plays: Alaska 0-for-3, Kenai River 0-for-1; Penalties: Alaska 2-for-4, Kenai River 4-for-8.

BROWN BEARS 7, AVALANCHE 4

Friday, Soldotna Sports Center

Alaska 2-1-1 – 4

Kenai River 0-2-5 – 7

First period – 1. Alaska- Harren (Skinner), 12:31; 2. Alaska- Dargis (Young, Jones), pp, 17:39

Second period – 3. Alaska- Pichler (Young, Jones), 2:11; 4. Kenai River- Simson (K. Harris, J. Harris), 3:29; 5. Kenai River- Murphy (Jenkins, Simson).

Third period – 6. Kenai River- Jenkins (Johansson), 4:56; 7. J. Harris (K. Harris, Nell), 6:07; 8. Kenai River- Bossert (Peterson, Henley), 12:34; 9. Kenai River- Murphy (Norris), pp, 16:32; 10. Kenai River- Wentland (Deur), pp, 19:09; 11. Alaska- Harren (Skinner), 19:17

Shots on goal: Alaska 8-11-8 – 27, Kenai River 3-14-17 – 34. Saves: Alaska- Corey 3-12-12 – 27. Kenai River- Madej 6-10-7 – 23. Power plays: Alaska 1 for 7, Kenai River 2 for 6. Penalties: Alaska 6 for 12 minutes, Kenai River 7 for 14.