GUT CHECK

PALMER — It could have been easy for the Alaska Avalanche to mail one in Monday night.

The Avs — amid a ridiculous seven-game, nine-day stretch — hadn’t even been back in the state 18 hours before dropping the puck against Dawson Creek.

But with a little grit, a couple of goals and outstanding goaltending, the Alaska Avalanche scored a 4-0 win over the Rage at the MTA Events Center to move into first place of the North American Hockey League West Division.

“It was a little bit of a gut check,” Alaska head coach Corey Millen said after the win. “With all things considered, it wasn’t going to be easy. Most of these guys got to bed at 5:30, 6 in the morning.”

Four players scored and Alaska goalie Nick Kulmanovsky stopped all 29 shots he saw to help Alaska improve to 15-8-1 and move into a first-place tie with Kenai River. The win marked Alaska’s fifth straight victory and third in the last four days.

“We do appreciate the fact they came back and they were pretty mentally prepared,” Millen said.

The win leads off a three-game set that continues tonight and Wednesday against the Rage at the rink formerly known as the Palmer Ice Arena. The home games come after a five-game road trip that included a three-game series against the Rage in British Columbia, Canada. In all, the Avs will play 12 times during a 21-day stretch in November.

“It’s just a brutal schedule,” Millen said. “Almost unheard of.”

Alaska scored twice on the power play, and rookie Jordan Watt bagged a goal and an assist in the win. Defenseman Jeff Bergh sparked Alaska early, scoring at the 7:51 mark of the first period.

“For us to get that, get on the board early was definitely helpful,” Millen said.

Bergh’s tally was a 5-on-3 goal. The Avs appeared to have scored less than a minute later on the power play, but the goal was waved off after a called hand pass.

The Avs officially took the 2-0 lead less than two minutes into the second with a Casey Nelson power-play goal. The defenseman took the puck at the point, moved forward toward the left wing circle and snapped a shot into the net to tally the score, his first of the season.

In one for the highlight reel, forward Brandon Brossoit raced up the right wing and slipped a centering pass to Mitch Kontny for the circle. Kontny buried the shot to score for the third straight game and fourth time in five games.

Watt added an empty-netter during the tail of regulation.

Kulmanovsky stopped 11 of the 29 shots in the third and made arguably his biggest saves during the final period.

The Fairbanks native stopped a nifty backhand during a Dawson power play midway through the third. Kulmanovsky darted to his right to put a glove on a sharp wrister from the slot with eight minutes to go. With six minutes left, Kulmanovsky stoned a Rage odd-man rush, stopping one shot and then sprawling to make another save on the attempt off the rebound.

“Nick’s one of those guys, you can tell he was tuned in,” Millen said. “And when he’s tuned in, he’s tough to beat.”

The series continues tonight at 7 p.m. at the MTA Events Center. The Avs are hosting a food drive. Fans who bring a can of food will be admitted for just $5. The food gathered will be donated to the Food Pantry of Wasilla.

Wednesday’s game against the Rage will also be Faith Night at the MTA Events Center. Admission is free for the first 200 youth and all others receive half-price admission, $5.

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

Alaska 4, Dawson Creek 2

Monday, MTA Events Center

First period — 1. Alaska- Bergh (Christianson, Schmitz) pp 7:51.

Second period — 2. Alaska- Nelson (Watt, Schmitz) pp 1:14; 3. Alaska- Kontny (Brossoit, Novakovich) 18:03.

Third period — 4. Alaska- Watt (Pavek, Kinkopf) en 18:30.

Shots on goal: Dawson Creek 9-9-11—29, Alaska 8-8-6—22; Saves: Dawson Creek- Surgenor 7-6-5—28, Alaska- Kulmanovsky 9-9-11—29; Power plays: Dawson Creek 0 for 8, Alaska 2 for 5.