Ice Dogs score weekend sweep of Avalanche

WASILLA — The Fairbanks Ice Dogs used a 2-1 win over Alaska to post a two-game weekend sweep of the Alaska Avalanche.

Fairbanks forward Eric Kraft scored the game-deciding goal with 5 minutes and 15 seconds left in regulation to lead the Ice Dogs to the win in front of 883 fans at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena on Saturday.

Jon Waggoner also scored for Fairbanks.

Alex Young recorded Alaska’s lone goal of the night. With an assist from Wasilla product Jeremiah Dargis, Young scored with 8:43 remaining in the second period.

Alaska goalie Dusan Sidor stopped 39 shots in the loss. Fairbanks netminder Cody Reichard posted 36 saves in the win.

On Friday Reichard made 32 saves to lead the Dogs to a 2-0 win over Alaska. Alaska had 13 shots in the first and 12 more in the third, but could not sneak the puck past the Fairbanks goalie.

Waggoner and Randen Hill each scored second-period goals for the Ice Dogs.

With the victories, Fairbanks is now riding a seven-game winning streak. They also gave Fairbanks a one-point lead in the North American Hockey League South Division standings. Fairbanks is 19-9-2 overall, slightly better than second-place Wichita Falls (19-8-1).

The Avalanche, a team that had won 10 of their last 13, is in fourth place with a 13-14-1 mark.

Alaska will now have three days off before hosting Kenai River at the Menard Arena on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

— Jeremiah Bartz