New line produces in win over Bobcats

WASILLA — Alaska head coach Dave Boitz decided to stick forwards Zach Smith, Matthew Friese and Nardo Nagtzaam on the same line for the first time Saturday night.

After seeing how the trio worked together, there’s a good chance fans will see that combination again.

The Smith-Friese-Nagtzaam line accounted for three of Alaska’s four goals during a 4-2 win over the Bismarck Bobcats at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena.

“That line played well tonight,” Boitz said. “They were just making good plays (and they were) forechecking hard.”

Smith scored a pair of goals and Alaska outshot the Bobcats 44-20, as the Avs improved to 8-1-1 overall.

“We were putting a lot of pressure on them down low, cycling the puck and making good plays,” Boitz said.

Smith, who is averaging more than a point per game this season, scored midway through the first to give the Avs the 1-0 lead. The Anchorage native pushed his team’s advantage to 4-2, scoring with 8:42 left in regulation.

“Zach works pretty good around the net, scoring those garbage goals,” Boitz said. “And he scored a couple more tonight.”

Friese broke a 1-1 tie midway through the second with an unassisted power-play tally. Berkley Scott, who was named the North American Hockey League West Division Player of the Week earlier in the week, continued his recent scoring surge a second-period goal.

Alaska goaltender Kale Robertson stopped 18 of the 20 shots he faced, and improved to 4-0-0 with the win. Robertson now has a goals against average of 1.25 and saves percentage of .954.

Alaska will continue its series against Bismarck today at 5 p.m. at the Menard. The teams will also drop the puck on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

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

Alaska 4, Bismarck 2

Saturday, Menard Arena

First period — 1. Alaska- Smith (Hildebrandt, Nagtzaam) 11:57.

Second period — 2. Bismarck- Dunne (Schmitt) 8:58, 3. Alaska- Friese (unassisted) pp 11:51, 4. Alaska- Scott (Pichler, Haider) 14:16, 5. Bismarck- Fabian (Jensen, Smrke) 14:42.

Third period — 6. Alaska- Smith (Friese, Pearson) 8:42.

Shots on goal: Bismarck 20, Alaska 44; Saves: Bismarck- Massa 40, Alaska- Robertson 18.