Avs to take another shot at Ice Dogs

WASILLA — Despite averaging 32 shots per contest during their two-game series against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in the Interior last week, the Alaska Avalanche managed just a pair of goals during the set, and both of those scores came from defensemen.

The lack of scoring led to a pair of losses and Fairbanks continued its string of eight straight wins over the Avs this season.

Tonight, the Avs host the North American Hockey League West Division-leading Ice Dogs in another two-game series that starts at 7 p.m. at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena. And when the Avs — who have averaged more than 33 shots per game this year — take the ice to face the rival Ice Dogs for the ninth time this year, the focus will undoubtedly be on putting a few of those shots into the back of the Fairbanks net.

Alaska continues to pepper opposing goaltenders, but for whatever reason, not many pucks are hitting twine.

It’s a trend the Alaska coaching staff saw during Wenatchee’s two-game sweep of the Avs early last week and again over the weekend against the Ice Dogs.

“Our goal-scorers have to step up and score goals,” Alaska head coach Dave Boitz said following an Alaska loss last week.

With an 0-8-0 mark against Fairbanks this season, the Avs have found a tremendous amount of success against the Ice Dogs this season.

Only eight players have goals against Fairbanks this year, and Alaska’s leading scorer against the Ice Dogs, forward Zach Smith, has been hurt.

Smith, who has not seen action since Jan. 24, has four goals and an assist in five games against Fairbanks this season.

Defenseman Sean McNeely (2-2-4) and forward Ryan Kowal (1-3-4) each have four points against the division leaders.

McNeely, Kyle Pichler and Matthew Friese both have a pair of goals against Fairbanks this year.

McNeely and fellow blueliner Beau Braun scored goals for Alaska during a pair of 3-1 losses to the Dogs last weekend.

In the now famous NAHL Outdoor Game on Friday, McNeely posted a power-play score early in the second period to cut the Ice Dogs’ advantage in half.

The following night, Braun scored a third-period power-play goal assisted by McNeely.

With two points against the Ice Dogs, McNeely took over as the team’s leading scorer. The Brooklyn Park, Minn., native now has seven goals and 18 assists for a team-high 25 points.

His 25 points also rank him third among NAHL blueliners and he’s tied for second in the league for goals among defensemen.

Alaska (17-21-2) is currently ranked third in the NAHL West with 36 points. The Avs are 10 points shy of second-place Wenatchee (22-17-2) and two points ahead of fourth-place Kenai River (14-25-6).

Fairbanks (29-10-6) is the top team in the division with 64 points.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.