Avs dig out in pair of games to sweep Kenai River

SOLDOTNA — Forget the brooms — this sweep took shovels.

The Alaska Avalanche dug themselves out from a big deficit for the second night in a row Sunday, scoring three late goals to take a two-game series from North American Hockey League West Division rival Kenai River with a 5-4 win at the Soldotna Sports Center.

Alaska newcomer Cory Belisle scored the game-winner with 6:15 remaining in the game, converting a Kyle Pichler steal into Alaska’s third goal in 2 minutes, 17 seconds of play.

“Pichler got it around the net, I got open in front, brought it to my backhand and went top cheese,” said Belisle, who picked up the game-winner in his eighth game in an Avs’ sweater.

The comeback left Kenai River stunned. Brown Bears coach Brent Agrusa called timeout following Belisle’s goal, but the damage was already done. With Alaska goaltender Dylan Woodring making several key stops down the stretch, the Avalanche were able to fend off a powerful Kenai River charge late in the game.

“They’re probably the quickest team in the whole division,” Alaska coach Dave Boitz said of the Kenai, which led 4-2 early in the third period. “They move the puck, they’re strong on the puck and they’re quick.”

Woodring finished the game with 48 saves on 52 Brown Bears shots.

“You know you’re going to see shots when you’re playing them,” Boitz said.

For the second night in a row, Kenai River scored on its first shift of the game, getting a Ryan Lemke goal just 30 seconds into the contest.

Lemke was a terror on the ice all night for the Brown Bears, twice ringing the post with shots and sending several attempts whizzing past Woodring’s helmet.

Logan Rounds pulled Alaska even five minutes later when he caught Kenai River’s defense napping, breaking in alone on Brown Bears goalie Zach Hansen and finishing with a nifty wrister.

The Avalanche briefly took the lead early in the second period after Nardo Nagtzaam made Kenai River defender Ryan Goodmanson pay for a turnover in his own end, beating a defenseless Hansen to put Alaska up 2-1.

But Kenai River stormed back thanks to an extended power play that saw the team net two goals in a span of 38 seconds.

Following penalties to Alaska’s Jake Parenteu (hook) and Thomas Erlacher (slash), the Brown Bears were set up with a 5-on-3 opportunity.

The team took little time cashing in, getting a Kegan Kiel slap shot goal to tie the score.

Shortly after play resumed, Kiel found himself in the same spot at the point, and again drove a slap shot toward the net. Woodring make the initial stop, but Kenai River forward Patrick Sullivan’s rebound was true to put the Brown Bears up 3-2 after two solid periods of play.

Kenai River pushed its lead to 4-2 when T.J. Poganski took advantage of some shaky Alaska defending, converting a Chris Annuziato steal into a slap-shot goal.

“We dominated all night,” Agrusa said.

But after building a big lead, the Brown Bears got sloppy — and Alaska was more than happy to cash in.

Two-time Alaska high school player of the year Robb Haider started the Alaska comeback when he took a cross-ice pass from Rounds and converted the 2-on-1 chance to make things 4-3.

Less than 90 seconds later, Alaska’s Jay Baldwin somehow managed to sneak a soft, one-handed shot through the Kenai River defense and past Hansen for the tying goal.

With the Brown Bears on the ropes, it didn’t take Alaska long to go for the knockout punch.

Pichler stole the puck deep in the Kenai River zone and sent a centering pass from behind the net to Belisle, who found himself alone in traffic, flipping the puck over Hansen’s shoulder for the game-winner.

All three goals came about as a result of Alaska turnovers, and Agrusa didn’t mince words after the game, saying certain Kenai River players failed to pass the puck late in the game.

“You’re dominating these games, and you’re losing because guys want to start getting away from what they’re supposed to do and be selfish,” Agrusa said. “Selfish players don’t make teams win.”

The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for the Brown Bears, a team that failed to hold a 3-0 lead Saturday night in a 6-5 Avalanche win.

“If you don’t play 60 minutes, you don’t win,” Agrusa said.

Boitz didn’t disagree.

“We found a way at the end of games to exploit their breakdowns,” he said.

Boitz said he was proud of his players for not giving up despite the tough circumstances — not to mention some tough love from the head coach.

“I think it’s a tribute to the guys because I was pretty down on ‘em tonight,” he said.

With the win, Alaska moved into third place in the North American Hockey League’s West Division, while the Brown Bears fell to fourth.

Alaska returns to action Friday, hosting the Wichita Falls Wildcats in a pair of weekend games. Alaska will face Wichita Falls Friday at the Subway Sports Center in Anchorage at 7:15 p.m., and again at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena in Wasilla on Saturday at 7 p.m..

Forward leads

Avs to win

SOLDOTNA — Alaska forward Thomas Erlacher collected a goal and three assists to lead the Avalanche to a 6-5 come-from-behind win over Kenai River at the Soldotna Sports Center on Friday.

Justin Giles, Robb Haider, Ryan Kowal, Nardo Nagtzaam and Kyle Pichler also scored for Alaska.

Nathaniel Pellegrino earned the win in the Alaska net.

Matt Tunseth is a freelance writer from Kenai.

Alaska 5, Kenai River 4

Saturday, Soldotna Sports Center

Alaska 1-1-3—5

Kenai River 1-2-1—4

First period — 1. Kenai River- Lemke (Goodmanson, McGlasson), :30; 2. Alaska- Rounds (Giles, Haider), 5:15.

Second period — 3. Alaska- Nagtzaam (un), :53; 4. Kenai River- Kiel (Lemke, Goodmanson), 8:07, pp; 5. Kenai River- Sullivan (Clay, Kiel), 8:45, pp.

Third period — 6. Kenai River- Poganski (Annuziato), 1:50; 7. Alaska- Haider (Rounds), 11:28; 8. Alaska- Baldwin (Friese, Giles), 12:59; 9. Alaska- Belisle (Pichler), 13:45.

Shots: Alaska 13-12-7 – 32; Kenai River 17-19-16 – 52; Saves: Alaska- Woodring 16-17-15 – 48; Kenai River- Hansen 12-11-4 – 27; Penalties: Alaska 4-for-8; Kenai River 3-for-6.

ON DECK

What: Alaska Avalanche vs. Wichita Falls Wildcats

Where: Subway Sports Center, Anchorage

When: Friday, 7:15 p.m.

Notes: Alaska forwards Robb Haider, Justin Giles and Thomas Erlacher each collected four points during Alaska’s two-game sweep of Kenai