Avs blanked, swept by first-place Fairbanks

PALMER — The Fairbanks Ice Dogs continued to create space in the North American Hockey League West Division with a pair of wins over the Alaska Avalanche at the MTA Palmer Ice Arena in Palmer over the weekend.

Fairbanks completed the two-game sweep and improved to 32-12-2 overall with a 3-0 win over Alaska on Saturday.

JT Osborn, Sean O’Rourke and Jared Linnell scored in the win. Goalie Joe Phillippi earned the shutout in the Avalanche net.

Alaska dropped to 27-21-3 with the losses and remain in third place of the NAHL West.

Fairbanks skated to a 5-2 win over the Avs on Friday.

Defenseman Dan Senkbeil scored twice in the loss, notching a pair of power-play goals. His first goal tied the score at 1 less than four minutes into regulation. He scored again late in the second to cut the Fairbanks lead to 3-2.

Alaska outshot Fairbanks 46-38 in the loss. Phillippi turned away 44 Alaska shots.

Alaska’s four-week homsetand continues Friday against Wenatchee, which currently sits in second place.

—Jeremiah Bartz