Ice Dogs edge Avs, extend NAHL West lead

Frontiersman.com

FAIRBANKS — The Fairbanks Ice Dogs continue to build their North American Hockey League West Division lead.

Fairbanks scored a pair of goals in the second and third periods to score a 4-3 win over the Alaska Avalanche at the Big Dipper Ice Arena in Fairbanks on Thursday.

The Ice Dogs improved to 37-12-7 with the victory. With 81 points in the standings, Fairbanks now holds a seven-point lead over second-place Wenatchee.

Alaska dropped to 32-18-4 with the loss. The Avs remain in third place, trailing Wenatchee by six points in the standings. Alaska is still trying to move into that No. 2 spot to secure home ice advantage during the first round of the NAHL playoffs.

The three-game set continues tonight and Saturday in Fairbanks.

Alaska took the early lead Thursday with Jordan Watt’s ninth goal of the year. The Orange, Calif., native found the back of the net at the 18:18 mark of the first.

Fairbanks took a quick lead early in the second period, scoring twice during the first 2:15 of the middle frame. Alaska tied the score two minutes later with Evan Janssen’s power-play goal, but Fairbanks enjoyed another big stretch early in the third.

This time, Gabe Levin scored a pair of Fairbanks goals during the first 3:55 of the third.

Codey Hanson scored midway through the period to bring the Avs within a goal, but Alaska was not able to tie the score during the final 10 minutes of the game.

Fairbanks outshot Alaska 31-18 in the win. Both teams were 1 for 2 on the power play.

Gage Christianson and Wehebe Darge each posted a pair of assists for Alaska.