SHOOT-AROUND

PALMER — Midway through the second period, the Alaska Avalanche had more shots on goal in one shift than the Dawson Creek Rage had during the entire middle frame. Alaska posted 17 shots in the first and another 17 in the second, while allowing only nine Rage attempts through 20 minutes of play. But for some reason, the teams skated into the second break with the score knotted at 1.

Dawson Creek was able to stick around for two periods, but Alaska got its game-winner in the third.

Forward Brandon Brossoit scored on the power play midway through the final period to lift the Avalanche to a 2-1 win over the Rage at the Palmer Ice Arena.

“Our guys worked hard for the majority of the game,” head coach Brian Huebel said after a win that pushed Alaska to 6-6-0 overall and into a third-place tie with Wenatchee in the North American Hockey League West Division standings.

While the Avs skated with the two-man advantage, forward Seth Johnson sent a shot from between the circles to the Rage net. Brossoit, parked on the left side of the goal, was able to get a stick on the puck and deflect the shot in.

“We talked to Seth before, if we have a 5-on-3, we want him to get up top,” Huebel said. “He got up top and was able to find a lane.”

Alaska outshot Dawson Creek 43-12 in the victory.

“I thought the majority of the game we played well,” Huebel said.

Alaska was able to skate several minutes of the time without allowing a Dawson Creek attempt. Meanwhile, on the other side of the ice, the Avs offense consistently peppered Dawson goalie Andrew Walsh with the puck. Walsh kept the Rage in the contest, making 41 stops in the loss.

“The goalie played nice,” Huebel said. “He made some nice saves.”

The game marked the fourth meeting of the season between the Avs and the Rage, an NAHL expansion team based in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada. It was also Walsh’s third start, and third loss against the Avs, and third time he saw 40 or more shots in game against the Mat-Su club.

Defenseman Tyler Briola gave the Avs the lead in the first period when he one-timed a Derek Whitehill pass from behind the net.

Dakota Mason tied the game for the Rage with 14 minutes left to play in the third. Derek Johnston smacked a shot toward the goal that bounced off the back well and in front of the net. With a group of players huddling the Avalanche goal, Mason was able to poke the free puck past Alaska goalie Landon Peterson.

“The puck came out in front and there was stuff going on,” Huebel said. “We need to address that a little bit. When the puck gets in front of Landon, we need to clean it out and not let guys have two, three cracks at it. Landon didn’t even know it went in.”

Alaska, 3-1-0 against the Rage this season, host Dawson Creek tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/matsu_sports.

Alaska 2, Dawson Creek 1

Thursday, Palmer Ice Arena

First period – 1. Alaska- Briola (Whitehill) 16:34.

Second period – 2. Dawson Creek- Mason (Johnston, Rossiter) pp 15:07.

Third period – 3. Alaska- Brossoit (Johnson, Briola) pp 13:41.

Shots on goal: Dawson Creek 5-4-3—9, Alaska 17-17-9—43; Saves: Dawson

Creek- Walsh 16-17-8—41, Alaska- Peterson 5-3-3—11; Power plays: Dawson

Creek 1-for-6, Alaska 1-for-4.