FAIRBANKS – The Fairbanks Ice Dogs found their scoring touch in the third period of Saturday night\’s North American Hockey League game in Wasilla.
The Ice Dogs snapped a 1-1 tie with four unanswered goals in the final 20 minutes to claim a 5-1 victory against the Alaska Avalanche, completing a three-game sweep.
\”We finally got a couple to go in for us,\” Ice Dogs coach Josh Hauge said. \”I think every line got a goal in the third period, so it was spread out through the whole team.\”
The Ice Dogs went into the series one point ahead of the Avalanche, who have 11 games left on their schedule compared to six for the Ice Dogs.
That lead is now seven points as the Ice Dogs take this week off while the Avalanche travel to Minnesota for games against Alexandria.
\”This was a good way for us to end the month of February,\” Hauge said. \”Now we\’ve got the chance to get a little rest and get a couple of guys healthy for the stretch run.\”
\”We should have (Mark) Pustin and (Jon) Waggoner back after for our next games,\” Hauge added.
Ice Dogs goaltender Joseph Phillippi turned in another outstanding performance on Saturday night making 40 saves and allowing the lone goal to Zach Smith at 15:25 of the first period. It was the only goal he allowed all weekend as the Ice Dogs posted a 1-0 win on Thursday night and a 3-0 victory on Friday.
\”Phillippi was unreal tonight,\” Hauge said. \”He was great for us.\”
Phillippi faced 36 shots in the first two periods, but the Ice Dogs outshot the Avalanche 18-5 in the third, when the Avalanche spent most of the period in the penalty box.
Jon Feavel scored what proved to be the game-winning goal for Fairbanks at 6:49 of the third period off assists from Joe Krause and Josh Nelson.
Less than two minutes later, Justin Kirchhevel found the back of the net on an assist from Aaron McGill.
McGill scored a power-play goal from Zach Tolkinen at 12:39 and Jared Larson capped the scoring at 17:15 with his second goal of the game. It was assisted by Tolkinen and Jon Schreiner.
Larson\’s first goal of the game came at 10:45 of the first period off assists from Schreiner and Pete Spratte.
The Ice Dogs play their final six games of the season in the friendly confines of the Big Dipper Ice Arena. The next games are against the Avalanche on March 5-6.
Contact the News-Miner sports department at 459-7581.
