Avs to start crucial homestand

PALMER — The Alaska Avalanche may sit in third place of the North American Hockey League West Division, five points out of first and two points out of second. But with six of their final nine games at home, more than half their remaining home schedule against the first-place Fairbanks Ice Dogs, the Avs like where they are sitting.

“Bottom line, we have five against Fairbanks in the last nine games of the season,” Alaska head coach Brian Huebel said. “We’re really excited to play the top team in the division five more times with 10 points available. That’s what we want.”

Tonight, the Avs head into the final nine games of the regular season, hosting the Ice Dogs in the first of consecutive home games at the MTA Palmer Ice Arena. The puck is set to drop at 7:30 p.m. each night.

The Avs, who are still looking to grab one of the top two spots in the six-team NAHL West that guarantee teams home ice during the first round of the playoffs, face a Fairbanks team that has won six of its last seven games.

“We know Fairbanks is a good team,” Huebel said. “We need to come ready to play.”

The Ice Dogs, who were off last week, started February by dropping a 3-1 decision to Kenai River, but then won three straight games, all against the Brown Bears.

Fairbanks is 7-3-0 in its last 10, and during that stretch the Ice Dogs have received solid production from its all-Interior line, a trio made up of former Lathrop skaters Alec Hajdukovich and Taylor Munson, and former North Pole standout Jared Linnell.

Hajdukovich has six goals and 13 assists during the last 10 games, and Munson (3-12-15) and Linnell (7-6-13) also have at least 13 points during that stretch.

“We’ve got to be able to shut down their top guys,” Huebel said. “They’re young kids are playing really well.”

Forward JT Osborn leads the Ice Dogs with 29-21-50 totals.

Like Alaska, Fairbanks also made moves before the deadline to strengthen its lineup. Fairbanks acquired defensemen Jack Callahan and Wally Cossette in trades.

“This is a different Fairbanks team than we’ve seen in the past,” Huebel said. “But we’re a different Avalanche team. It’s a good matchup.”

The Avs and the Ice Dogs are even through the first eight games of the season series, playing through four two-game splits. The rivals were last in action in mid-January, with Fairbanks slipping by with a 6-5 win during the first game of the set and Alaska scoring the 5-2 win the following night.

Alaska, which is 2-2-1 in its last five and 3-5-2 in its last 10, split a two-game series with Kenai River last weekend. Alaska stormed to a 6-2 win in Game 1, but fell 4-1 on Saturday.

Huebel said for the Avs, the key is consistency.

“We need to come out ready to play, ready to put forth a consistent effort all weekend,” Huebel said.

Forwards Zach Smith, Andy Pearson and Matt Friese are the top scorers in the last 10, with 5-4-9 totals. Five different Avs have four points in their last five games.

Team West wins

Top Prospects

Four Alaska Avs helped Team West win the NAHL Top Prospects tournament in Ann Arbor, Mich., earlier this week. Defenseman Daniel Senkbeil, goalie Landon Peterson, and forwards Blake Huppert and Matt Friese skated for Team West, which finished 2-1 in three games.

“I think the guys who were chosen to go worked hard, competed hard and put on a pretty good show for the schools,” Huebel said of the event designed to showcase the league’s top talent to college scouts.

Senkbeil, who grabbed an assist during the final game of tourney, stood out in particular, Huebel said.

“Dan Senkbeil was really good all weekend,” Huebel said.

The Avs forwards skated to a hot start in the tourney, combining for five points during a 6-2 win over Team Central. Huppert collected a goal and two assists, while Friese finished with a goal and an assist. Both were a plus-3.

Peterson finished 1-1-0 in net. He stopped all 12 shots he saw during the first game of the tourney.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.