Avs grind out win

PALMER — With 58 regular-season games, it’s tough to ask any team to feel 100 percent every night. But sometimes the key to a successful season is finding a way to win on those off nights.

Despite facing their share of struggles, Alaska powered to a 5-3 win over the Dawson Creek Rage at the MTA Palmer Ice Arena on Thursday.

“It wasn’t our best game, but we found a way to grind it out tonight,” Alaska head coach Brian Huebel said. “We weren’t as sharp as we usually are, but that’s going to happen regardless of who you are. They’re young, they’re learning.”

Another big night on the power play helped the Avs capture the victory. Alaska scored three times on the advantage en route to the win, and scored two first-period power-play goals to erase an early deficit.

Forward Andy Pearson scored a pair of power-play goals to help the Avs improve to 19-11-1 overall. The victory gives Alaska 39 points in the North American Hockey League West Division standings, and moves the Avs three points ahead of the second-place Fairbanks Ice Dogs.

Jake Barber, Blake Huppert and Matt Friese also scored for Alaska.

Barber’s goal also came with the advantage.

“We got some power-play goals, and were able to limit them, for the most part, on their power-play opportunities,” Huebel said.

Defenseman Daniel Senkbeil led the Avs with three assists, while Jake Williams and Zach Smith added a pair of helpers each.

Alaska goalie Landon Peterson stopped 22 shots in the win.

Nolan Zarazun gave the Rage the early lead, scoring seven minutes into regulation, but the Avs were able to answer with a pair of scores later in the period. Pearson scored midway through the frame to tie the score at 1. Barber scored his NAHL-high 22nd goal at the 12:20 mark to give his team the 2-1 lead.

The contest was the first in a three-game series. Alaska hosts Dawson Creek tonight and Saturday at the MTA Palmer Ice Arena. The puck is set to drop at 7:30 p.m. each night.

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

Alaska

Thursday, MTA Palmer Ice Arena

First period — 1. Dawson Creek- N. Zarazun (B. Zarazun, Bailey) 7:00; 2. Alaska- Pearson (Senkbeil, Williams) pp 12:20; 3. Alaska- Barber (Pearson, Brossoit) 18:16.

Second period — 4. Dawson Creek- Matthews (Mason, Fellnermayr) 2:01; 5. Alaska- Huppert (Senkbeil, Smith) 13:50; 6. Alaska- Friese (Senkbeil. Smith) 16:01.

Third period — 7. Alaska- Pearson (Barber, Williams) pp 14:01; 8. Dawson Creek- Swales (Waterfield, Petrick) 14:17.

Shots on goal: Dawson Creek 5-12-8—25, Alaska 8-12-11—31; Saves: Dawson Creek- Walsh 6-10-11—28, Alaska- Peterson 4-11-7—22; Power plays: Dawson Creek 0-for-6, Alaska 3-for-8.