WASILLA — The Fairbanks Ice Dogs are in an unfamiliar place right now.

Third place.

The perpetual North American Hockey League power has spent recent weeks hovering around the .500 mark. But regardless of record, the Alaska Avalanche know, Fairbanks is still the team to beat in the NAHL West. “The odds are pretty good, regardless of who finishes first, second, third or fourth, one way or another, we’re going to have to get through Fairbanks to get to Wenatchee for the national tournament,” Alaska head coach Dave Boitz said Thursday.

Tonight, the Avs will have their first crack at the Ice Dogs of the season when Alaska hosts Fairbanks at the Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Ice Arena in Wasilla.

“They’ve had our number in the past, but I think (Fairbanks is) really wondering what we’re all about,” Boitz said of his squad, which sits in second place of the NAHL West with a 10-3-3 mark.

In seasons past, Fairbanks has been typically led by its stellar goaltending. The Dogs’ top goaltender in each of the last two seasons — Cody Reichard (Miami, Ohio) and Phil Cook (Minnesota State-Mankato) — are playing Division I hockey. Another former Ice Dogs goalie, Joe Phillippi, is stopping pucks in the United States Hockey League this year.

“Their goaltending was terrific last year,” Boitz said.

This year, Fairbanks netminders have struggled in net.

“The jury is still out,” Boitz said.

Fairbanks has already traded a pair of goalies, Tyler Bruggeman and David Eland. Bruggeman was 3-4-1 with a 3.09 goals against average before he was dealt.

Mike Taffe has seen the most action since, making six starts. Newcomer Jake Williams made his first start of the season during a 7-2 win over Wichita Falls last week.

On the flipside, Alaska has been the team with standout play in net. First-year NAHL players Kale Robertson and Landon Peterson both rank in the league’s top-five in goal goals against average and saves percentage.

Robertson sits strong at second in GAA with a mark of 1.73. His saves percentage of .937 ranks him fourth in the league.

Peterson fourth with a 2.13 GAA and fifth with a .931 saves percentage.

“They’ve both been really good for us,” Boitz said. “We’re really happy with the goaltending.”

While Fairbanks, which is allowing 3.06 goals per game this year, may not be quite as good on the defensive end as years past, the Ice Dogs offense is certainly explosive.

Led by forwards Mark Pustin and Michael Juola, two of the top three scorers in the league, the Ice Dogs are pumping in nearly four goals per game.

“Their forwards are really talented,” Boitz said.

Pustin is tied for the league lead with 25 points (12-13-25). Juola is third with 23 (5-18-23).

Four players, including former Avalanche forward Kyle Politz, have 14 or more points.

Second-year forward Nardo Nagtzaam posted a hat trick during an 8-1 win over Kenai River last week and now is tied for the team lead in scoring with nine goals and seven assists. Forward Zach Smith has also hit the 9-7-16 totals for the Avs.

Alaska, which is also scoring nearly four goals per game, has a half-dozen players with 11 or more points.

Alaska’s next four games are against the Ice Dogs. The Avs not only host Fairbanks tonight and Saturday, but also on Nov. 6-7.

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