Avs show improved effort in loss

WASILLA — While no team likes to lose, some losses are simply easier to swallow — for example Alaska’s 4-1 loss to the Topeka RoadRunners at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena on Friday.

After suffering a mind-boggling 11-1 defeat to the same Topeka team just two nights before, Alaska rebounded to skate with one of the hottest teams in the North American Hockey League for about two-and-a-half periods on Friday.

“(That was a) big effort,” Alaska head coach and general manager Jamie Smith said after the game. “Huge effort.”

Smith was a bit disturbed by his team’s apparent lack of effort and focus in Wednesday’s 10-goal loss, but felt much better about his team’s level of play on Friday.

“We’re trying to move in the right direction,” Smith said. “The thing about our kids, is we just need to stay positive.”

Although the Avs extended their franchise-record losing streak to 15 games, Smith continues to stress to his players there’s still a ton to play for during the final month of the regular season.

Alaska (15-30-2) is still the playoff hunt with 32 points, just six behind fourth-place Texas (17-29-4) which currently holds the final South Division postseason berth.

And the Avs are within reach of one of their primary team goals.

“We’re still looking at the big picture,” Smith said. “Our goal at the beginning of the season was to win 20 games. We’re five away. We’ve got some winnable games against Fairbanks and some winnable games against Alexandria.”

Alaska has two-game sets against division-rivals Wichita Falls and Texas in the next two weeks, and another against Alexandria in early March.

The regular season ends with four straight against Fairbanks.

The RoadRunners used a hot start to hand Alaska’s its 15th straight loss and skate to their 12th win in their last 15 tries.

Topeka buried its first two shots and held a 2-0 lead 2 minutes and 56 seconds into regulation.

Corey Jendras and Dennis Brown each scored within the first three minutes of the game.

But once the clock ticked past the 17-minute mark of the first period, Alaska skated evenly with the second-place RoadRunners, allowing just one even-strength score — a Eriah Hayes goal in the second period — during the final 57 minutes of action.

Topeka added a gratuitous empty netter with 26 seconds left.

After allowing the first two scores, Alaska goaltender Dusan Sidor stopped 21 of the next 22 shots he faced and continued to get stronger and stronger in each period.

“He allowed those first two goals, then he came back to play pretty decent,” Smith said.

But a key for the Avs was limiting Topeka’s shots to an acceptable total.

Topeka managed only 25 shots in the win, compared to the 43 the RoadRunners registered on Wednesday.

Last week, Topeka collected 40 shots in a 6-1 win over the Avs.

“We limited the amount of shots today,” Smith said.

Smith credited the work on defense to his players ability to follow the game plan.

“We ran the systems,” Smith said.

Although the Avs limited the RoadRunners to 25 shots, their fewest in their last 16 games, Alaska put only 15 shots on goal

Forward Sean Ranum put the Avs on the board late in the third by smacking a loose puck into Topeka net, and doing exactly what Smith feels the Avs need to do.

“It’s called the concept of shooting,” Smith joked after the game. “Not having to set up the perfect play.”

After Alaska blueliner Teddy Zierdan moved the puck into the offensive zone, the Topeka back check knocked the puck free. With the puck lying alone at the left circle, Ranum took a smack and sent it into the net.

“Teddy did all the work, skated it all the way down the ice,” Ranum said humbly.

The goal historic for the Houston High School product and Willow native, marking Ranum’s first score at the Junior A level. In 45 prior games, he’d had only six assists to his credit.

Obviously not known as a goal-scorer, Ranum has been a defensive workhorse for the Avs on the team’s fourth line.

“He’s been fantastic for us,” Smith said. “I couldn’t ask for anything else.”

Topeka 4, Alaska 1

Friday, Menard Memorial Arena

First period — 1. Topeka- Jendras (Kamrass, Seckel) 1:28, 2. Topeka- Brown (Shafer, Hayes) 2:56.

Second period — 3. Topeka- Hayes (Paulazzo) 17:40.

Third period — 4. Alaska- Ranum (unassisted) 18:43, 5. Topeka- Seckel (Smith) en 19:44.

Shots on goal: Topeka 5-9-11—25, Alaska 4-4-7—15; Saves: Topeka- Rocker 4-4-6—14, Topeka 3-8-10—21; Power plays: Topeka 0-for-3, Alaska 0-for-1; Penalties: Topeka 4-for-21, Alaska 7-for-33.

Topeka 3, Alaska 1

WASILLA — Topeka scored a pair of unanswered goals to earn a 3-1 victory over the Alaska Avalanche.

The loss marked the 17th straight for the Avs.

Josh Kamrass gave Topeka the early 1-0 lead, scoring 1:25 into regulation.

Alaska forward Jeremiah Dargis scored midway through the first to tie the score at 1-1. Jason Cohen and Ryan Schmidt assisted on the play.

Dargis now has a team-high 33 points (16 goals, 16 assists).

The South Division foes skated with the score tied until Ross Trousdale’s power-play tally gave the RoadRunners the 2-1 lead.

Steve Shafer added a late score for Topeka.

Topeka 3, Alaska 1

Saturday, Menard Memorial Arena

First period — 1. Topeka- Kamrass (Brown, Hill) 1:25, 2. Alaska- Dargis (Cohen, Schmidt) 13:32.

Second period — 3. Topeka- Trousdale (Shafer, George) 14:11.

Third period — 4. Topeka- Shafer (Hayes, Artman) 18:35.

Shots on goal: Topeka 14-18-17—49, Alaska 5-3-9—17; Power plays: Topeka 1-for-5, Alaska 0-for-3; Penalties: Topeka 7-for-14, Alaska 9-for-18.