Wild snag pair of games from Avalanche

WENATCHEE, Wash. — The Wenatchee Wild added to their cushion at the top of the North American Hockey League West Division standings with a pair of wins over the second-place Alaska Avalanche over the weekend.

Jeff Jubinville scored twice to lead first-place Wenatchee (26-4-1) to a 3-2 win over the Avs on Saturday.

Berkley Scott and Zach Smith netted power-play goals for the Avalanche (16-5-5) during the loss.

Jubinville gave the Wild the early 1-0 lead, posting an unassisted goal just less than five minutes into play. Jubinville scored again to snap a 1-1 tie with 53 seconds left in the second.

Scott put the Avs on the board with his power-play goal with 1:32 left in the first.

Forwards Seth Johnson and Kyle Pichler assisted on the play.

Smith scored on the power-play with 4:35 left in regulation to cut Wenatchee’s lead to 3-2.

Alaska goalie Kale Robertson stopped 42 shots in the loss. Wenatchee outshot Alaska 45-17.

Wenatchee scored three times during the second period in a 3-1 win over the Avs on Friday.

Jake Parenteau scored on the power play midway through the first to give the Avs the 1-0 lead, but Michael DiPuma, Kyle Brodie and Chris Rumble scored during the middle period to give the Wild the lead.

Wenatchee outshot the Avs 38-29 on Friday. Landon Peterson made 35 saves for the Avs.

The series marked Alaska’s first visit to Wenatchee this season. The Avs will return to the Toyota Town Center, which is also the site of the 2010 NAHL Robertson Cup championship series, on Jan. 2 for another two-game set with the Wild.

The series was also the start of six straight home games for the Avs. Alaska will continue its road swing with a three-game set at Fairbanks. The series starts Thursday at the Big Dipper Ice Arena.

Alaska’s final home game before a three-week midseason break is Dec. 9 against the Kenai River Brown Bears.

Wenatchee 3, Alaska 2

Saturday, Wenatchee, Wash.

First period — 1. Wenatchee- Jubinville (unassisted) 4:24, 2. Alaska- Scott (Johnson, Pichler) pp 18:38.

Second period — 3. Wenatchee- Jubinville (Brodie) 19:07.

Third period — 4. Wentachee- Hillbrich (McLean) 2:14, 5. Alaska- Smith (Maly, Nagtzaam) pp 15:25.

Shots on goal: Alaska 7-6-4—17, Wenatchee 13-17-15—45; Saves: Alaska- Robertson 13-16-14—42, Wenatchee- Jaeger 6-6-3—15; Power plays: Alaska 2-for-6, Wenatchee 0-for-5; Penalties: Alaska 12-for-35, Wenatchee 11-for-38.

Wenatchee 3, Alaska 1

Friday, Wenatchee, Wash.

First period — 1. Alaska- Parenteau (Nagtzaam) pp 10:01.

Second period — 2. Wenatchee- DiPuma (Jubinville, Brodie) 1:27, 3. Wenatchee- Brodie (unassisted) 17:00, 4. Wenatchee- Rumble (unassisted) 18:27.

Third period — no scoring.

Shots on goal: Alaska 10-10-9—29, Wenatchee 9-18-11—28; Saves: Alaska- Peterson 9-15-11—35, Wenatchee- Jensen 9-10-9—29; Power plays: Alaska 1-for-5, Wenatchee 0-for-3; Penalties: Alaska 4-for-8, Wenatchee 6-for-12.