Avs hammer Dawson Creek

PALMER — On Friday night, the Alaska Avalanche could barely buy a goal. On Saturday, the Avs couldn’t miss.

Alaska scored six times on the power-play and cruised to an 8-0 win over the Dawson Creek Rage at the MTA Palmer Ice Arena in Palmer.

Brandon Brossoit and Cody Bisbing each scored twice to lead the Alaska charge. Both of Brossoit’s goals came with the advantaage, and Bisbing scored once on the power play. Daniel Senkbeil, Tyler Briola, Jake Barber and Blake Huppert also scored to help the Avs improve to 20-12-1 and stay in first place of the North American Hockey League West division.

Rookie goalie Blake Mendenhall recored a 23-save shutout in the win.

On Friday, Alaska had a tougher time finding the back of the net. Despite 38 shots on goal, Alaska was only able to put one score on the board during a 2-1 loss to the Rage. Afterward, Alaska head coach Brian Huebel said when he looks at his team’s performance in the offensive zone, he likes to look at his team’s opportunities rather than fixating on just the shot totals.

“They’re goalie played well, give him credit,” Alaska head coach Brian Huebel said. “But we just weren’t getting the types of shots we needed to get.”

Edward Dyson stopped 37 and allowed only one goal to help the Rage grab the one-goal win over the Avs.

Jason Wark and Dakota Mason scored for Dawson Creek. Matt Friese supplied Alaska’s lone score, a power-play goal.

Wark gave the Rage the 1-0 lead, slipping a puck into the Alaska net with just five second left in the first period.

Mason notched the game-winner 37 seconds into the third.

But on Saturday, it was open season for the Avs snipers, especially when the Avs skated on the power play. Alaska was 6-for-16 with the advantage.

Senkbeil scored his first career goal with the Avs 10 minutes into play to give his team the lead. Briola added his power-play goal four minutes later.

In the second, Alaska scored twice in 34 seconds — Brossoit on the power play and Barber shorthanded.

The Avs added four goals on 12 shots in the third.

Alaska 8, Dawson Creek 0

Saturday, MTA Palmer Ice Arena

First period — 1. Alaska- Senkbeil (Friese, Huppert) pp 10:09; 2. Alaska- Briola (Brossoit, Smith) pp 14:08.

Second period — 3. Alaska- Brossoit (Smith, Pearson) pp 11:50; 4. Alaska- Barber (Schmitz, Huppert) sh 12:24.

Third period — 5. Alaska- Huppert (Briola, Williams) pp 1:50; 6. Alaska- Brossoit (Van Allen, Pearson) pp 5:57; 7. Alaska- Bisbing (Van Allen, Hesse) pp 6:53; 8. Alaska- Bisbing (Nelson, Friese) 15:15.

Shots on goal: Dawson 11-6-6—23, Alsaka 13-14-12—39; Saves: Dawson- Dyson 18, Walsh 13; Alaska- Mendenhall 23; Power plays: Dawson 0-for-7, Alaska 6-for-16.

Dawson Creek 2, Alaska 1;

Friday, MTA Palmer Ice Arena

First period — 1. Dawson Creek- Wark (Smith, Hartley) 19:55.

Second period — 2. Alaska- Friese (Smith, Huppert) pp 12:49.

Third period — 3. Dawson Creek- Mason (Petrick, Bailey) 0:37.

Shots on goal: Dawson Creek 1-13-4—18, Alaska 16-10-12—38; Saves: Dawson Creek- Dyson 16-9-12—37, Alaska- Peterson 0-13-3—16; Power plays: Dawson Creek 0-for-4, Alaska 1-for-6.