Avs swept in Canada, next stop on road trip is Washington

DAWSON CREEK, BC — Chances are the Alaska Avalanche don’t have many fond memories from their latest Canadian vacation.

The Dawson Creek Rage sent the Avs out of their homeland winless during a three-game set after a series-ending 5-4 win over Alaska Sunday afternoon at the Encana Events Center in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada. Despite being outshot 42-26 by the Avs, Dawson Creek scored three first-period goals to build a 3-1 lead and held on for its second one-goal win over Alaska in three games.

Dakota Mason collected a pair of goals and two assists for the Rage, which improved to 18-25-2 in the North American Hockey League West Division standings. Alaska (25-18-2) remained in second place, despite the loss, but now sit just one point ahead of third-place Wenatchee. The Avs travel to Washington and will play the Wild on Friday and Saturday.

Defenseman Daniel Senkbeil gave Alaska the quick lead, scoring on the power play just 2 minutes and 19 seconds into regulation.

But Dawson scored three times during the final half of the first period.

Zac Ashdown notched a power-play tally of his own to tie the score at 1. Mason gave Dawson its first lead at the 17:20 mark.

Forwards Connor Wright and Brandon Brossoit scored during the second period, and the Avs tied the score at 3. Brossoit’s goal also came with the advantage.

Dawson grabbed the lead back in the third with a pair of goals.

Forward Ross Pavek scored shorthanded late in the third to bring the Avs within one, but Alaska could not find the equalizer.

Alaska finished 2-for-5 on the power play, and goalie Blake Mendenhall stopped 21 shots in the loss.

Andrew Walsh recorded 38 saves for the Rage in the win.

In addition to the nine goals scored, there were also 46 penalties in the game. The teams combined for 10 fighting majors and nine misconducts. Eleven penalties were issued at the 20-minute mark of the third, after the final horn sounded.