Avs gear up for ‘huge’ series with Ice Dogs

WASILLA — The Alaska coaching staff probably won’t have to spend much time telling the Avalanche players how big the upcoming three-game series with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs really is.

Alaska, winners of five games straight and eight of its last nine, are back within a point of Fairbanks in the North American Hockey League West Division standings. The second-place Ice Dogs, who are a mere 3-7-2 in their last dozen, are clinging to that one-point lead in the standings.

“It’s huge for both teams,” Alaska head coach Dave Boitz said of the set, which starts Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena in Wasilla.

Alaska started the season strong against it’s oldest rival. After scoring just a single win over Fairbanks last season, the Avs took three of their first four games against the Interior club.

Alaska is 3-4-2 in nine games against Fairbanks this year.

“We’ve felt like we haven’t played our best hockey against (Fairbanks) as of late,” Boitz said. “The guys are excited to get a healthy team on the ice and give’r a go.”

The Ice Dogs have been victims of some pretty quality competition during a brutal 12-game stretch that dates back to Jan. 9. Since scoring a slim 5-4 win over the Avs, the Ice Dogs dropped three straight to Kenai River. Fairbanks suffered a pair of losses in Wenatchee, and dropped four games to Texas.

But a key comparison is the play of the two teams against Kenai River, the fourth-place squad in the West. The Ice Dogs are 3-3-1 against Kenai in their last seven meetings. Meanwhile, Alaska has won seven straight against the Brown Bears.

In short, Alaska’s taking care of business against the bottom of the West.

Fairbanks also has played five more games than Alaska, which could play a factor in the two teams’ race for the second seed in the West.

“There’s probably more pressure on them,” Boitz said.

Alaska took its winning streak to seven against Kenai River and improved to 13-1-1 against the Bears this season with a pair of weekend victories in Soldotna.

“We’re playing with a lot more energy,” Boitz said of the Avs’ recent run. “We’ve been more physical. The hits have been up. That’s something we’ve really tried to focus on.”

Former Brown Bear and Kenai Central High School standout Jed McGlasson came up big in his old barn, scoring the game-winner with just 17 seconds left during a 3-2 victory on Friday.

Alaska added a 5-2 victory on Saturday. Second-year forward Matthew Friese posted a goal and a pair of assists during the victory.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.