Avs back in state, stay on road

PALMER — The Alaska Avalanche still have two games left in their season-opening eight-game road trip. But after spending the last two weeks in the Lower 48, a pair at Kenai River just might feel like home.

“It feels amazing to be home,” Alaska assistant Josh Petrich said Thursday night, as the Avs prepared for the two-game North American Hockey League West Division series against the Brown Bears that starts tonight at 7:30 at the Soldotna Sports Center. “You’re in your own bed, your own atmosphere.”

As the Avs creep toward that home-opener, an Oct. 14 date with the Fresno Monsters at the MTA Events Center in Palmer, they’ll try to pick up a few points during their first meetings of the year with the Bears.

Alaska is currently in last place of the NAHL West, with a 2-3-1 mark in six games, a point behind both Wenatchee and Dawson Creek. Kenai River (4-2-0) is in the middle of the West Division pack with eight points.

“This weekend’s huge. We’re at the bottom of the standings, and we need to crawl up,” Petrich said. “It’s early, but you don’t want to be in a hole too early.”

Even though the Avs have only two official wins during their first six of the season, Petrich said the Avs aren’t completely disappointed.

“One of my big philosophies is if you can play .500 or better on the road and win three-quarters of your games at home, you’ll be in really good position,” Petrich said.

The Avs basically hit that mark, scoring three of a possible eight points during the NAHL Showcase midway through the month. Alaska also split a two-game set with Wenatchee last weekend.

“Coming out and getting that Friday win was huge for us,” Petrich said of a 2-1 victory over Wenatchee at the Toyota Town Center in Wenatchee, Wash., last week.

Nick Kulmanovksy, who is currently eighth in the league with a 1.92 goals against average, stopped 36 shots to lead the Avs to the win.

“Nick stood on his head,” Petrich said.

Mitch Kontny scored on a tip-in on the power play to give the Avs a 1-0 lead. Patrick Kinkopf stepped up from his spot on the blueline and put a shot past Wenatchee goalie Greg Lewis early in the second.

“He’s got two pretty big goals right now,” Petrich said of Kinkopf, who was acquired in an offseason trade with Wenatchee. “We knew we was a really good defenseman. We knew in our zone we didn’t have to worry (about him). But he’s coming around, showing his offensive abilities.”

Wenatchee scored a 3-0 win over Alaska the following night.

Kenai River has been idle since the Showcase. The Brown Bears opened the four-day NAHL event with three straight wins, beating Aberdeen (5-2), Wichita Falls (2-1) and Alexandria (5-1). Janesville beat Kenai River 4-2 on the last day of the Showcase.

The Avs will be without four players this weekend, Petrich said, including veterans Brandon Brossoit and Evan Hesse.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.