Avs pad lead

FAIRBANKS — As he sat and watched the game film of his team’s 2-1 Friday night win over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs the following afternoon, Alaska assistant coach Josh Petrich was still amazed by the pace of the game.

“I’m still trying to figure out if it’s in fast forward or not,” Petrich said jokingly by cellphone from Fairbanks. “That’s probably the best game you could watch all year.”

Evan Janssen and Brandon Brossoit each scored and goalie Bohdi Engum allowed only one tally to help the Avs score the slim one-goal win over the Ice Dogs at the Big Dipper Ice Arena in Fairbanks.

“It was hard hitting, definitely back and forth,” Petrich said.

The 2-1 win on Friday combined with the 3-2 victory on Thursday gave the Avs the win in the three-game series. Fairbanks prevented the sweep with a 3-2 overtime victory over the Avalanche on Saturday.

With the wins and the overtime loss, Alaska took five of a possible six points in the series and added to its cushion at the top of the North American Hockey League standings. Alaska currently sits at 22-9-2 with 46 points, 10 points ahead of second-place Fairbanks (15-7-6, 36).

“Building this lead in the standings is huge for us,” Petrich said.

The Ice Dogs took the early lead on Friday, using an Alec Hajdukovich goal to take the 1-0 lead.

Alaska was able to tie the score in the second. Alaska’s leading scorer, Evan Janssen, capped a 3-on-2 odd-man rush with a goal. Janssen, Kevin Novakovich and Brossoit stormed down the ice on the rush. Novakovich made a pass that made the 3-on-2 an 2-on-0 rush.

“Brossoit fed it to Janssen and Janssen had the whole net to shoot at,” Petrich said.

Brossoit supplied the game-winner in the third period. With the Avs on the power play, Brossoit knocked the puck away from a Fairbanks player in his own corner and skated the length of the ice before scoring.

On Saturday, Alaska led twice, but Fairbanks scored two unanswered to earn the overtime win.

Captain Joe Schmitz scored just more than six minutes into regulation to give the Avs the 1-0 lead. Fairbanks forward Colton Wolter scored at the 16:31 mark to tie the score at 1. But less than a minute later, Gage Christianson scored to give the Avs the lead again.

Garret Clemment scored the game-tying goal in the third period, and JT Osborn tallied the game-winner in overtime.

The Ice Dogs’ win over the Avs Saturday was their first in six tries this season against Alaska.

The Avs now start a three-week break. Alaska is next in action against the Wenatchee Wild in Wenatchee, Wash., on Dec. 30.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Alaska 2, Fairbanks 1

Friday, Big Dipper Ice Arena

First period — 1. Fairbanks- Hajdukovich (Birkinbine, Munson) 10:33.

Second period — 2. Janssen (Novakovich, Brossoit) 7:49.

Third period — 3. Alaska- Brossoit (unassisted) pp 3:22.

Shots on goal: Alaska 12-9-8—29, Fairbanks 10-4-6—20; Saves: Alaska- Engum 9-4-6—19, Fairbanks- Perry 12-8-7—27; Power plays: Alaska 1 for 6, Fairbanks 0 for 6.

Fairbanks 3, Alaska 2 OT

Saturday, Big Dipper Ice Arena

First period — 1. Alaska- Schmitz (Pavek, Wright) 6:11; 2. Fairbanks- Wolter (O’Rourke, Racklin) 16:31; 3. Alaska- Christianson (Kontny) 17:30.

Second period — 4. Fairbanks- Clemment (Finch) 6:49.

Third period — no scoring.

Overtime — 5. Fairbanks- Osborn (Levin, Woods) 1:32.

Shots on goal: Alaska 6-12-4-0—22, Fairbanks 4-7-9-3—23; Saves: Alaska- Kulmanovksy 3-6-9-2—20, Fairbanks- Fons 4-12-4-0—20; Power plays: Alaska 0 for 3, Fairbanks 0 for 2.