Aces beat San Diego 5-4 in OT

January 1, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Chris Minard scored his second goal of the night 4:28 into overtime to punctuate a wild New Year's Eve and a 5-4 Alaska victory over San Diego in front of 4,744 Saturday at Sullivan Arena.

For the ninth time in their last 10 games, the Aces gave up the game's first goal, as a Ryan Bast turnover led directly to a backhander by Sylvain Deschatalets that beat Alaska starter Peter Aubry at 5:42 of the first period. Deschatalets scored his second of the night on San Diego's first shot of the second period at 1:05, again, set up by an Alaska turnover in its own zone, as Keith McCambridge failed to clear the puck past Brian Gornick, who quickly whipped it to Deschatalets in front. The Aces climbed within 2-1 exactly 40 seconds later, as Scott Gomez gave his hometown crowd something to crow about with his fourth goal of the season on a wrist shot that ticked off the glove of Gulls goalie Mathieu Chouinard.

Sean O'Connor scored his seventh goal in five games against Alaska just 32 seconds into the final period to push the San Diego lead back to two goals, but the Aces came storming back, scoring three goals in a span of 6:04 to turn that 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 edge. Defenseman Mike Jones triggered the comeback with a power play goal (his second of the year, both against the Gulls) at 3:44, and Minard tied the game when a centering feed from Gomez deflected off his skate and past Chouinard at 7:50. Joe Talbot flipped in a rebound of a Bast shot from the point for the go-ahead goal with 10:12 remaining, and suddenly Alaska had its first lead of the series (after a 2-1 loss Wednesday).

Talbot's goal looked like it would hold up as the game-winner until the closing moments, when, with San Diego's net empty, Mike Garrow's soft wrister from the point was redirected past Aubry by Gornick with 7.3 seconds left in regulation. The Aces, who like the Gulls had 23 shots in regulation, had all three in overtime, the last of which was set up by a cross-ice pass from Gomez to Minard, who streaked down the left wing, deked Chouinard, and tucked home a backhander five-hole with 32 seconds left in the extra session for his 15th of the year.

With the victory, Alaska moved into a fourth-place tie with Idaho in the West Division, as the Steelheads were beaten 5-2 at home by Peoria. San Diego remains in third place at 15-8-3. The Aces (14-12-2) travel to Victoria, British Columbia for two games against the Salmon Kings, Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. AST and Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. AST. Coverage begins 20 minutes prior to the opening face-off. Both contests will be broadcast on flagship station KFQD 750 AM and at www.alaskaaces.com. Alaska took two of three from last-place Victoria when the teams met at Sullivan Arena in mid-November. The Aces and Salmon Kings actually will play each other four consecutive times, the latter two scheduled for Anchorage next Friday and Saturday night, January 7 and 8, at 7:15 p.m.



ECHL Stories from January 1, 2005


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