Avs sweep Monsters out of Palmer

PALMER — Friday night, it was home sweet home.

But on Sunday, it was more like home sweep home.

The Alaska Avalanche used a 3-1 win over Fresno Sunday evening to sweep a three-game set with the Monsters at the MTA Events Center in Palmer.

Alaska used the three wins to improve to 6-4-1 overall and jump up a spot with 13 points in the North American Hockey League standings.

Alaska scored a 3-0 win in the 2011-12 home opener on Friday and followed with a 5-2 victory on Saturday.

Gage Christianson, Kevin Novakovich and Mitch Knontny each scored Sunday to help the Avs score their third win in as many nights and fourth straight.

Novakovich and Kontny both scored for the second straight night. But for the most part, Alaska used a well-rounded attack to put 11 pucks in the net during the three-day span.

It’s something the Avs coaches first saw in the series on Friday night, and something they’ve expected to see throughout the season.

“We’re going to have to work for our goals. We’re going to have to score by committee,” Alaska first-year head coach Corey Millen said after Friday’s win.

Christianson gave the Avs the early lead less than two minutes into regulation. Frenso was able to knot the score early in the second, but Novakovich supplied the game-winner at the 8:23 mark of the third.

Casey Nelson and Evan Janssen recorded assists on the play.

Kontny contributed an empty-netter with 53 seconds to go.

Rookie goalie Bohdi Engum stopped 20 of the 21 shots he faced to win his second straight start in the Avs net. The Burnsville, Minn., native made half of his saves during the third period to help the Avs seal the win.

Engum stopped 19 shots on Saturday to earn his first career NAHL victory.

Alaska continues a busy 10-game homestand with a three-game series against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs this week. The Avs host the defending Robertson Cup champions Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the MTA Events Center in Palmer.

The Ice Dogs (9-0-5) will skate into Palmer with the best record in the NAHL.

Alaska 3, Fresno 1

Sunday, MTA Events Center

First period — 1. Alaska- Christianson (Watt) 1:59.

Second period — 2. Fresno- Bradley (Haskell) 3:53.

Third period — 3. Alaska- Novakovich (Nelson, Janssen) 8:23; 4. Alaska- Kontny (Hansen, Christianson) en 19:07.

Shots on goal: Fresno 9-2-10—21, Alaska 10-16-5—31; Saves: Fresno- Sholl 9-16-3—28, Alaska- Engum 9-1-10—20; Power plays: Fresno 0 for 4, Alaska 0 for 4; Penalties: Fresno 5 for 13, Alaska 5 for 13.