Shutout leaves Avalanche perfect

PALMER — Last season, the Alaska Avalanche may have been a goaltender away from challenging for one of the top two spots in the North American Hockey League West Division. If the first two games of the season are any indication, things may be very different this year.

A night after Alaska goalie Geoff Sadjadi recorded 25 saves during a 7-2 win over Kenai River, Avs netminder Kale Robertson stopped all 15 shots he faced to lead Alaska to a 3-0 win over the Brown Bears at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena in Wasilla.

Not only did Robertson help the Avs jump to the quick 2-0 start this season, but he recorded the first shutout by an Alaska goaltender since March of 2006.

“He was real excited to get in net, he couldn’t wait to get in there,” said Alaska forward Robb Haider, who is sharing a host family with Robertson this season. “And I think he proved himself tonight.”

While Robertson kept the Bears off the scoreboard, his roommate supplied the bulk of the Avs offense. Haider scored twice in the win, posting an even-strength tally midway through the second and a power-play goal in the third.

Zach Smith also scored on the power play for Alaska.

Alaska head coach Dave Boitz said the Avs may not have shown the offensive punch they did during their seven-goal season debut on Friday, but his team made up for it on the defensive end of the ice.

“(Kenai) did a good job of taking us out of our game a little bit,” Boitz said.

While Robertson, a Sanford, Manitoba, Canada, native, got the shutout, credit the Alaska defense with the assist. Alaska blocked a number of shots and killed all nine Kenai River power-play opportunities during the win.

“We had some big penalty killing, we were great there,” Boitz said. “(Robertson) did make some good saves, but we played well on defense too.”

Last season, Alaska goaltenders combined for a .898 saves percentage and posted a 3.86 goals against average. While they were stellar in net at points, they were stagnant at others.

“When you’ve got goalies in there making big saves, it lifts the team,” Haider said. “When the goalies are stopping pucks it makes it easier on us. When they’re playing well, our whole team is confident we can win games.”

Kenai River missed on a breakaway in the first period, and nearly snuck a puck past Robertson early in the third.

Within 10 seconds of the opening minute of the third period, with Kenai River skating with the man-advantage thanks to a delayed penalty called, Kenai forward Dajon Mingo ripped a shot from just beyond the left circle. Mingo’s attempt glanced off the glove hand of Robertson, and began to trickle across the crease. Before the puck crossed the line, Robertson was able to flip to the other side and knock the puck free with his stick.

Both teams combined for 20 power plays and 106 minutes of penalties in the game. Players were issued fighting majors eight different times in the game. Six of those penalties came in the third period.

On Friday, a pair of hometown products helped the Avs win their season-opener on home ice.

Matthew Friese, a senior at Wasilla High School, posted a goal and two assists and Colony High School graduate Blake Huppert recorded a goal and an assist during his first game at the Junior A level.

Kyle Pichler, Raymond Stenehjem, Jake Parenteau, Seth Johnson and Robb Haider also scored for the Avs.

Joe Spencer gave the Bears the early lead Friday, scoring an unassisted power-play goal six minutes into the first period.

After Pichler and Stenehjem scored within a two-minute stretch midway through the first, Kenai captain Jed McGlasson beat Sadjadi five minutes into the second to tie the score at 2-2.

Alaska scored five unanswered to seal the win.

Alaska (2-0) now sits in a first-place tie with Wenatchee at the top of the NAHL West. The Wild recorded back-to-back wins over defending division champion Fairbanks this weekend.

Alaska and Kenai River complete a three-game series tonight at the Menard Arena at 5 p.m.

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

Alaska 3, Kenai River 0

Saturday, Menard Memorial Arena

First period — 1. Alaska- Smith (Parenteau, Nagtzaam) pp 11:49.

Second period — 2. Alaska- Haider (Scott, Pichler) 7:10.

Third period — 3. Alaska- Haider (Maly) pp 12:31.

Shots on goal: Kenai River 5-5-5—15, Alaska 13-7-11—31; Saves: Kenai River- Hamby 12-6-10—28, Alaska- Robertson 5-5-5—15; Power plays: Kenai River 0-for-9, Alaska 2-for-11; Penalties: Kenai River 20-for-60, Alaska 17-for-46.

Alaska 7, Kenai River 2

Friday, Menard Memorial Arena

First period — 1. Kenai River- Spencer (unassisted) pp 6:36; 2. Alaska- Pichler (Parenteau, Haider) pp 11:59; 3. Alaska- Stenehjem (Friese, Parenteau) 13:55.

Second period — 4. Kenai River- McGlasson (Musselman) 4:58; 5. Alaska- Parenteau (Smith, Huppert) 6:38; 6. Alaska- Friese (Pearson, Johnson) 16:28; 7. Alaska- Johnson (Pearson, Friese) 17:15.

Third period — 8. Alaska- Huppert (Smith, Nagtzaam) 7:36; 9. Alaska- Haider (Pichler, Scott) 8:17.

Shots on goal: Kenai River 11-10-6—27; Alaska 10-20-16—46; Saves: Kenai River- Hamby 8-17-14—39; Alaska- Sadjadi 10-9—6—25; Power plays: Kenai River 1-for-9, Alaska 1-for-11; Penalties; Kenai River 16-for-43, Alaska 13-for-29.