Utah sneaks by on Hayes' third period winner
February 22, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska. - Ryan Hayes busted a 2-2 tie at 4:56 of the third period on a goal that stood as the game winner, lifting the Utah Grizzlies over the Alaska Aces, 3-2 before a crowd of 5,583 at Sullivan Arena on Saturday.
Capping an evening where the Aces finished inductions of their inaugural Hall of Fame class (Saturday introduced new members Mike Scott, Kimbi Daniels and season ticket holder Bobby Hill), Alaska outshot Utah 37-35 in the game and rallied from a 2-0 deficit, while collecting their 10th shorthanded goal of the season. Igor Bobkov made 35 saves to preserve the win, outdueling Aaron Crandall's 32 stops.
The loss for the Aces was only their third in regulation, at home, in the last 11 games. Utah extended their lead to three points over Alaska for fourth in the Pacific Division.
Mathieu Aubin's first of back-to-back goals lifted Utah to a 1-0 edge with 4:32 left in the first, on the back end of a double minor power play. Aubin crashed the net, seemingly held in check by Justin Breton, but Michael Pelech's post-to-post feed glanced off Breton and Aubin before it ricocheted past Crandall.
Aubin then jumped on a loose puck for a 2-0 lead at 11:40 of the second period, roofing a wrister under the crossbar. But the Aces broke through on Bryan Cameron's eighth goal of the season, screening Bobkov for a power play goal with 4:36 left after Brad Cole was able to get a shot through from the point.
Evan Renwick's blocked shot on a Utah power play, early in the third period, produced a two-on-one break and Chris Francis fed a saucer pass, cross-ice, to Curt Gogol who slammed a one-timer over Bobkov from the right circle for his 11th goal of the season at 2:16, tying the game.
Just 2:40 later, Utah capitalized on a three-on-two break and Hayes buried a snap shot from the right circle, set up by T.J. Syner for a 3-2 edge. The Aces earned several looks at the net afterward, including a Chris Francis wrister from the left circle with four minutes left, but Utah preserved the win on a clearing attempt with 20 seconds left.
NOTES: The Aces scratched Brendan Connolly, Corey Syvret, Brad Gorham and Troy Redmann ... Coffman has nine points in the last five games ... Alaska fell to 4-2-1 in the series against Utah ... Cameron, Francis, and Tim Coffman accounted for 21 shots, nearly 60 percent of the Aces shot production in the game.
Alaska and Utah meets tomorrow in a rematch at Sullivan Arena, starting at 7:15 p.m. (GCI/KFQD). The finale of Hall of Fame Weekend tomorrow will honor former forwards Kimbi Daniels, Mike Scott, and current season ticket holder Bobby Hill.
ACES HALL OF FAME PROFILES: ACESdTV
The Alaska Aces released video preview "shorts" on all six inductees of the inaugural class of the Aces Hall of Fame throughout the week leading up to Hall of Fame Weekend. Videos on all six inductees can be accessed on demand by visiting ACESdTV, the official Aces video site, at youtube.com/acesdtv.
For Kelly Cup championship merchandise, 2014-15 season tickets, corporate sponsorship packages, and more information, please call 907-258-ACES. The Aces can also be visited on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey or on Twitter, @AlaskaAces.
Three Stars:
1. UTA - M. Aubin
2. UTA - I. Bobkov
3. AK - A. Crandall
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