Avs power past Rage

PALMER — Alaska’s three-day stay in Dawson Creek began with a wimper, but ended with a bang.

The Avs hammered 12 pucks into the Rage net during the final two nights to win 2 of 3 in the series, and make a jump in the North American Hockey League West Division standings.

Alaska capped the series with a 5-3 win over the Rage in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada, Sunday afternoon.

Forwards Kevin Novakovich and Evan Janssen each bagged a goal and an assist to lead the Avs to the win and help Alaska improve to 12-8-1 overall. Alaska now sits in third place of the NAHL West with 25 points, one point shy of second-place Fairbanks.

Codey Hansen, Brandon Brossoit and newcomer Kristaps Bazevics also scored for the Avs.

Alaska, which had struggled on the power play earlier in the season, scored three times with the advantage Sunday. It marked the second straight game Alaska scored three power-play goals.

Rookie goalie Bodhi Engum earned his second straight win in net, stopping 29 Dawson Creek shots.

Janssen, Alaska’s leader with 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists), finished with six points in the series, recording 3-3-6 totals and a plus-5 rating against the Rage.

Brossoit, who recently returned from an injury, finished with five points in the series (2-3-5). He was also a plus-4. Captain Joe Schmitz collected two assists on consecutive nights.

The series is part of a busy November for the Avs. Alaska starts at two-game set against the Fresno Monsters in Fresno, Calif., on Friday, before returning to home to host Dawson Creek, Nov. 21-23.

Alaska 5, Dawson Creek 3

Sunday, Dawson Creek, Canada

First period — 1. Alaska- Novakovich (Janssen) 8:54; 2. Alaska- Hansen (Bisbing) 12:01; 3. Dawson Creek- Adduono (Smith, Zipp) 12:44; 4. Alaska- Janssen (Novakovich, Schmitz) pp 15:58.

Second period — 5. Alaska- Brossoit (Bergh) pp 14:44.

Third period — 6. Alaska- Bazevics (Schmitz) pp 1:00; 7. Dawson Creek- Adduono (Zipp, Amundson) 5:29; 8. Dawson Creek- Saretsky (Fellnermayr) 9:38.

Shots on goal: Alaska 13-9-11—33, Dawson Creek 7-14-11—32; Saves: Alaska- Engum 6-14-9—29, Dawson Creek- Dyson 10-8-10—28; Power plays: Alaska 3 for 10, Dawson Creek 1 for 7.