Avs now aim to be the spoilers

WASILLA — The Alaska Avalanche were officially eliminated from the North American Hockey League playoff race with a 6-2 loss to the Alexandria Blizzard last week.

Even though their postseason hopes are gone, with two weeks left in the regular season, the Avs are looking to other things they can accomplish — most notably the chance to make life hell for the rival Fairbanks Ice Dogs.

Alaska has four games left in its 2007-08 campaign, all against Fairbanks, a team that is fighting for home ice in the first round of the NAHL playoffs.

Alaska travels north to face Fairbanks tonight and Saturday at the Big Dipper Ice Arena.

Both games are slated to start at 7:30 p.m.

The Avs will return to the Big Dipper March 28-29.

The Ice Dogs, who have six games remaining, are currently in third place in the NAHL’s South Division with 71 points. In order to host a first-round series, the Dogs must leap-frog Topeka. The RoadRunners, who have 75 points, also have six games remaining.

“They’ve got to win,” Alaska head coach Jamie Smith said on Monday. “We need to get up there and compete for four games, and try to steal a couple.”

For Smith, the next four games will also provide an opportunity to take a good hard look at the young talent on the roster. Alaska currently has only four players on the roster who are skating in the final games of their junior hockey career. Defenseman Teddy Zierdan, forward Sean Ranum, forward Michael McCurtain and goalie Dusan Sidor are all in their final year of junior eligibility. That leaves 21 players who could potentially be back at the Menard Memorial Arena for another season.

And with so much young talent, getting a few wins against a top NAHL team could do wonders for the future, Smith said.

“It’s all about progression,” Smith said. “Get a few wins and it sends a good message to the younger kids.”

Despite missing the playoffs for the second straight year, the Avs have a few positive notes to look at.

Alaska is currently averaging a franchise-record 2.81 goals per game, and the Avs have five players with 30 or more points for the first time in franchise history.

With three points in four games, forward Jeremiah Dargis (19 goals, 22 assists, 41 points) can break the franchise record for points in season. Last season forward Victor Nordenson recorded 43 points.

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