LAS VEGAS -- In another contest marred by more than 100 minutes in penalties, Las Vegas scored four power play goals in a 6-3 victory over Alaska in front of 4,321 Saturday at Orleans Arena.The Aces racked up two more game misconducts and another 69 PIM in a tilt that featured a combined 113. In Friday's 4-3 loss to the Wranglers, the Aces accounted for 76 of the combined 157 PIM. Alaska drops to 4-2 heading into next weekend's first place showdown with unbeaten Idaho, who moved to 5-0 with a 5-3 decision over Utah. Friday and Saturday games against the Steelheads will start at 7:15 p.m. AT, while Sunday's series finale begins at 5:05 p.m. and features the first postgame "Skate with the Aces," presented by Fred Meyer. All three games will be broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM.
With 3.8 seconds left in a scoreless first period on Saturday, Josh Prudden won a face-off back to Vegas defenseman Jason Krischuk, whose shot from the point caromed off Derick Martin and floated past Aces goalie Scott Reid as time expired. Matt Stefanishion answered with a power play goal at 1:44 of the second period, a backhander off the rush.
The score remained tied 1-1 entering the final 20 minutes, which began with Alaska fending off a five-on-three power play. After killing one opportunity, a delay-of-game penalty led to another five-on-three and the go-ahead goal by Prudden at 1:56. 31 seconds later, after another penalty against the Aces, Aaron Miller pushed the Vegas lead to 3-1. When Krischuk scored again off the rush at 4:33, Alaska head coach Brent Thompson had seen enough and called time-out.
Colin Hemingway scored his fourth goal of the series on a power play to pull the Aces within 4-2 at 9:29, and when Martin flipped home a rebound in a four-on-four situation with 7:16 left to play, a comeback seemed imminent. But an interference penalty against Martin resulted in a 12th power play for the Wranglers, who cashed in when Ned Lukacevic scored from between the circles at 14:38. An empty-netter by Miller with 1:35 remaining sealed Alaska's second straight defeat after a club record-tying 4-0 start to the season. The Aces finished 2-9 on their own power play and were out-shot 44-22, including 31-12 over the final two periods.
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