Wild sweep keeps Avs out of second

WASILLA — Heading into their key two-game series with the Wenatchee Wild, the Alaska Avalanche had averaged nearly 37 shots a game in six prior meetings with their North American Hockey League West Division rival.

But despite its prolific shot total, the Avs have managed few goals on the scoreboard against Wenatchee and even fewer points in the win-loss column.

And this week, in two games against Wenatchee, the Avs averaged more than 30 shots per game against the Wild, but watched as Wenatchee skated off the ice with a pair of victories over Alaska.

“Our goal-scorers have to step up and score goals,” Alaska head coach Dave Boitz said after the Avs’ 3-2 overtime loss on Wednesday.

Nic Dowd scored an overtime power-play goal to give Wenatchee its second win over the Avalanche in as many days, and the Wild’s seventh victory eight meetings with Alaska.

Even though Wenatchee boasts a 7-1-0 mark against the Avalanche, Alaska assistant captain Justin Giles said the Avs have the ability to have success against a club that has given Alaska fits.

“I just think sometimes we make mistakes and they capitalize,” Giles said. “I think we’ve definitely got them in sight. This latter half of the season, I think it’s going to turn our way.”

The Avs, who have a six-pack of games left to play against Wenatchee during the regular season, had been on a run before this series. Alaska was winners of six straight and one of the hottest teams in the NAHL.

“Things are going better for us,” Giles said. “We’re kind of getting our wheels rolling.”

Dowd, who scored twice in Wenatchee’s Wednesday win, posted the first of his two scores early in the first to give the Wild the 1-0 lead. Michael Voran, sent a pass across the ice, in front of the Alaska net, to pull Avs goaltender Nate Pellegrino out of position to set up Dowd’s first score. Dowd put a shot in the upper shelf of the net, above a diving Pellegrino to give Wenatchee the one-goal lead.

Less than three minutes later, McKellar picked up the puck in the Alaska goal, got behind the Avalanche defense and popped a shot in to give the Wild the 2-0 lead.

“Two breakdowns, two goals and we’re down 2-0 again,” Boitz said.

A pair of former South Anchorage High School standouts, Robb Haider and Braden Kinnebrew, each scored for Alaska to force overtime.

Haider, who now has goals in seven straight games, posted a power-play tally with seven seconds left in the first to put the Avs on the scoreboard.

As the final seconds ran off the first-period clock, Giles fed the puck to Haider, who put a quick wrist shot into the upper part of the Wenatchee net.

Late in the second period, former Service High School standout Ryan Kowal won a battle near on the boards to set up Kinnebrew’s score. Skating up the left side of the ice, Kowal powered his way through the Wenatchee defense, kept possession of the puck, and sent a quick pass across the ice to Kinnebrew, who after streaking in from the back line, put a hard wrist shot on net from the right circle.

Alaska did pick up a point in the West Division standings by forcing overtime, but it’s sort of a dubious parting gift for the Avs, who were hoping to leap-frog Wenatchee in the division.

Second-place Wenatchee (20-16-2) stretched its lead to eight points over third-place Alaska (17-19-2) with the wins.

Alaska now heads north to face the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in a two-game series that starts tonight in the Interior. Tonight, the Alaska teams will make history when Fairbanks hosts Alaska in the first USA Hockey sanctioned junior hockey game to be hosted outdoors. For more, see the related story in today’s edition of the Frontiersman.

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

Wenatchee 3, Alaska 2 OT

Wednesday, Menard Arena

Wenatchee 2-0-0-1—3

Alaska 1-1-0-0-—2

First period — 1. Wenatchee- Dowd (Voran, Vandercook) 6:53, 2. Wenatchee- McKellar (Severson, Torrel) 9:46, 3. Alaska- Haider (Giles, McNeely) pp 19:53.

Second period — 4. Alaska- Kinnebrew (Kowal, Nagtzaam) 18:01.

Third period — no scoring.

Overtime — 5. Wenatchee- Dowd (McKellar, Voran) pp 4:07.

Shots on goal: Wenatchee 9-11-10-3—33, Alaska 13-7-5-5–30; Saves: Wenatchee- Carruth 12-6-5-5—28, Alaska- Pellegrino 7-11-10-2—30; Power plays: Wenatchee 1-for-5, Alaska 1-for-6; Penalties: Wenatchee 6-for-12, Alaska 5-for-10.

Early lead enough for Wenatchee

WASILLA — The Wenatchee Wild built a 5-0 lead and held on for a 6-3 win over the Alaska Avalanche at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena on Tuesday.

Six different players scored for the Wild in the victory.

Robb Haider, Thomas Erlacher and Cory Belisle scored for Alaska.

Wenatchee 6, Alaska 3

Tuesday, Menard Arena

Wenatchee 3-2-1—6

Alaska 0-1-2—3

First period — 1. Wenatchee- Voran (Ledford, Vandercook) pp 6:46, 2. Wenatchee- Severson (Burrell) 11:01, 3. Wenatchee- Burrell (McKellar) 15:55.

Second period — 4. Wenatchee- Blake (Mosey) 2:02, 5. Wenatchee- McKellar (Torrel, Mort) 11:26, 6. Alaska- Haider (Giles) 18:09.

Third period — 7. Alaska- Erlacher (Parenteu) 1:04, 8. Alaska- Belisle (McNeely) 2:29, 9. Wenatchee- Brown (Burrell) 7:20.

Shots on goal: Wenatchee 18-11-15—44, Alaska 7-13-15—35; Saves: Wenatchee- Dugas 7-12-13—32, Alaska- Pellegrino 15-x-x—15, Woodring x-9-14—23; Power plays: Wenatchee 0-for-4, Alaska 0-for-4; Penalties: Wenatchee 10-for-49, Alaska 11-for-39.