Late scores can't save Avalanche

WASILLA — Alaska scored three times in the third period, but the Avalanche still couldn’t catch the Topeka RoadRunners.

Topeka scored a trio of first-period goals and earned a 6-5 win over the Avs Friday at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena in Wasilla.

Topeka forward Alec Hagaman scored twice to help the RoadRunners record their North American Hockey League-best 22nd win of the year and push Alaska’s losing streak to eight games.

Hagaman’s power-play goal early in the third proved to be the game-winner.

Steve Shafer, Andy Inderieden, Jacob Poe and former Alaska forward Travis Stevens also scored for Topeka.

Zach Smith popped in a pair of power-play goals to lead the Avs. Smith put Alaska on the scoreboard early in the second period and scord again with the man advantage two minutes into the third. The Anchorage native, who has seven points in his last five games, is now tied with teammate Tyler Currier with a team-high 10 goals.

Logan Rounds, Daniel Hildbrandt and Jason Cohen also scored for Alaska.

Cohen, Robb Haider and Shawn McNeely recorded two assists each.

Topeka 6, Alaska 5

Friday, Menard Memorial Arena

First period — 1. Topeka- Shafer (Poe) pp 7:05, 2. Topeka- Stevens (Poe, George) 11:36, 3. Topeka- Inderieden (Trousdale, Swank) 19:46.

Second period — 4. Alaska- Smith (McNeely, Nagtzaam) pp 10:36, 5. Alaska- Rounds (Haider, Kelly) 14:35, 6. Topeka- Hagaman (Shafer, Artman) 17:19, 7. Topeka- Poe (unassisted) 18:27.

Third period — 8. Alaska- Smith (Cohen, McNeely) pp 2:00, 9. Topeka- Hagaman (Sundstedt, Rocker) pp 5:33, 10. Alaska- Hildbrandt (Haider, Cohen) 11:42, 11. Alaska- Cohen (Pichler, Currier) 17:29.

Shots on goal: Topeka 17-11-11—39, Alaska 9-12-9—30; Saves: Topeka- Rocker 9-10-6—25, Alaska- Woodring 14-9-10—33; Power plays: Topeka 2-for-4, Alaska 2-for-5; Penalties: 12-for-24, Alaska 11-for-22.