Anchorage Daily News

Finally, a little bit of luck graced the Kenai River Brown Bears on Friday in their 4-3 shootout victory over the Alaska Avalanche at Menard Memorial Arena.

And appropriately, the person to cash in that luck was forward Jed McGlasson, back after a breaking his left hand in a freakish on-ice accident against Alaska on Nov. 17.

McGlasson, the former Kenai Central High star, scored two goals on the backhand, one in regulation and the game-winner in the shootout, which the Brown Bears won 3-2.

On Saturday, two call-ups from the Junior Avalanche midget comp team helped Alaska win 5-3. Wasilla High forward Adam Friese totaled a goal and an assist, while Houston's Dillon Styers scored the opening goal in the first period.

The win snapped Alaska's four-game losing streak. The Avs had won 6 of 7 -- all against Kenai -- going into last weekend's two losses against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs.

Dustin Skinner, Alex Rasmussen and Kent Detlefsen also scored for Alaska, while Dusan Sidor stopped 35 of 38 shots.

Alaska improved to 14-15-2. The Avs are off until a Jan. 4-5 showdown at Fairbanks. After that, Alaska departs on a nine-game road trip through Texas and Kansas.

Kenai fell to 8-18-6.

McGlasson's accident was about as unlucky as you could get. Just as an Avalanche player was leaving the penalty box, McGlasson was checked hard into the boards, striking the sharp corner exposed by the inward-opening door.

That injury followed breaking his right hand during some on-ice fisticuffs in September. Both injuries required surgery. McGlasson has played in just nine games this season.

"I probably shouldn't be playing," said McGlasson as he revealed deep red scars on the top of both hands. "But as the season goes by, I don't want to miss any more games."

The injuries didn't appear to hamper his soft-handed stick handling. Bearing down on Avs goalie Dusan Sidor, McGlasson quickly pulled the puck to his backhand, then lifted it over Sidor's shoulder.

Kenai goalie Matt Wichorek stoned Alaska's Kyle Pichler to end the shootout.

It was Kenai's first shootout win against Alaska after five losses. But it wouldn't have happened without a little luck for Wichorek.

Wichorek stopped Tyler Currier's shot, but the puck dribbled past and into the net. Referee Curtis Marouelli overturned the goal.

McGlasson said he was getting a little tired of so many games decided by shootout. But he did like certain aspects.

"All the pressure is on you," he said. "I like them, because you always want to be that guy."

Alex Young scored two power play goals and whistled a wrister clean past Wichorek in the shootout for Alaska, which rallied from a two-goal deficit in the first period.

Kenai also won its first road game Wednesday, scoring five straight goals in the third period en route to a 7-3 victory over Alaska.

"This whole past two weeks, we've been practicing defensive hockey," McGlasson said. "And we've stepped up in our game. As a team, we're finding more chemistry, and we're all playing a little bit better, becoming more experienced. We're a young team, but everyone is getting more confidence."

Find Ron Wilmot online at adn.com/contact/rwilmot or call 907-352-6712.

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