Luke Pavicich posted a shutout as the Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the host Minnesota Wilderness 4-0 on Sunday in North American Hockey League play.
Pavicich stopped all 44 of the shots he faced in helping the Bears stop a two-game losing streak. He also improved his record this season to 7-2-0-0.
The Brown Bears moved into a tie for first place in the Midwest Division with the victory. Kenai River is 8-5-0-0 and the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets are 7-4-2-0, both good for 16 points. The Minnesota Magicians, who defeated the Bears on Friday and Saturday, are just two points behind the leaders despite having played only eight games.
The Wilderness fall to 3-5-0-1.
Lucas Wahlin, assisted by Drew Jeffers and David Vieten, had the lone goal for the first period.
In the second period, Lauden Poellinger scored unassisted and short-handed for a 2-0 lead before Anchorage’s Max Helgeson, assisted by Poellinger and Peter Morgan, made it 3-0 headed into the third period.
In the final period, Wasilla’s Porter Schachle finished up the scoring with an unassisted goal.
The Bears now travel to Janesville for Friday and Saturday games at 4 p.m. AKST and a Sunday tilt at noon.
Sunday
Brown Bears 4, Wilderness 0
Kenai River 1 2 1 —4
Minnesota 0 0 0 —0
First period — 1. Kenai River, Wahlin (Jeffers, Vieten), 3:29. Penalties — none.
Second period — 2. Kenai River, Poellinger (un.), 10:38; 3. Kenai River, Helgeson (Poellinger, Morgan), 11:42. Penalties — Kenai River 3 for 6:00; Minnesota 2 for 4:00.
Third period — 4. Kenai River, Schachle (un.), 2:50. Penalties — Kenai River 1 for 2:00; Minnesota 1 for 2:00.
Shots on goal — Kenai River 9-11-21—41; Minnesota 13-15-16—44.
Goalies — Kenai River, Pavicich (44 shots, 44 saves); Minnesota, Johnson (21 shots, 17 saves), Zacharewicz (20 shots, 20 saves).
Power plays — Kenai River 0 for 3; Minnesota 0 for 4.
