Avs power past Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. — The Alaska Avalanche are back, sitting alone at the top of the North American Hockey League West Division standings. And the Avs found a wild way to get there.

Alaska scored four times on the power play, but allowed three shorthanded goals during a 7-5 win over the Fresno Monsters at the Selland Ice Arena in Fresno, Calif., Wednesday night.

“It was a wild game. It had a weird feel to it the entire game,” Alaska head coach Brian Huebel said by cell phone from Fresno after the win.

Alaska entered the contest part of a four-way tie for first place in the NAHL West, but took a step ahead of the pack and improved to 15-11-0 with the victory. The Avs also used those four power-play goals to open their five-game road trip with a win.

Matthew Friese, who was reacquired by the Avalanche in a trade with the United State’s Hockey League’s Chicago Steel, scored a pair of power-play goals in his return to the Avalanche.

“With a full day of travel, you could tell his legs weren’t there, but his first game back, we’re happy with the things he did,” Huebel said of Friese.

Zach Smith and Grant Dye also scored power-play goals for an Alaska team that finished 4-for-16 with the man-advantage.

“We had some nice plays, some very good efforts,” Huebel said.

But Fresno was also able to strike while Alaska skated with the advantage, scoring the three shorthanded goals in the second period.

“We were Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde on the power play,” Huebel said.

Jake Barber scored shorthanded for the Avs. Ross Pavek and Jake Williams also scored for Alaska.

Smith led the Avs with three assists.

Fresno outshot Alaska 39-27 in the loss, and Huebel said there are certainly things the Avs need to look at as they continue the series Friday in Fresno.

“We need to work on the defensive zone, blocking the shots, helping the goaltending,” Huebel said.

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

Alaska 7, Fresno 5

Wednesday, Fresno, Calif.

First period — 1. Alaska- Barber (unassisted) sh 15:36; 2. Alaska- Pavek (Huppert) 16:52.

Second period — 3. Fresno- Siemer (Lovick, Loesch) 6:33; 4. Alaska- Williams (Smith) 10:44; 5. Fresno- Hess (Hilbrich) sh 14:40; 6. Alaska- Friese (Smith) pp 15:03; 7. Alaska- Dye (Briola, Whithill) pp 17:08; 8. Fresno- Whelen (unassisted) sh 18:04; 9. Fresno- Siemer (Cox, Whelen) sh 19:06; 10. Alaska- Friese (Smith, Tryggeseth) 19:20.

Third period — 11. Alaska- Smith (Huppert, Senkbeil) pp 0:38; 12. Fresno- Indelicato (Cox, Pauluk) pp 13:53.

Shots on goal: Alaska 9-17-11—27, Fresno 10-12-17—39; Saves: Alaska- Peterson 10-8-16—34, Fresno- Conlin- 7-13-10—20; Power plays: Alaska 4-for-16, Fresno 1-for-7.