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Aces blitzed by Grizzlies, 9-5

February 1, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - Garrett Bembridge scored three of his four goals as Utah built an 8-0 lead before settling for a 9-5 win over Alaska before 3,410 Friday at the E Center.

The Grizzlies greeted Mike Brown, making his first start in net for Alaska and looking for his first victory since November 30, with three goals in the game's first 7:47, including former Ace Justin Bourne's 14th goal of the year, which came on Utah's first shot only 1:51 into the game and marked his third of the season against his former team. Four minutes later, Bembridge scored the first of his four, and Olivier Labelle added his 14th goal of the season (six of which have come against Alaska) for a 3-0 lead at intermission.

When a shot from just inside the blue line by Ian Forbes sailed past Brown just 56 seconds into the second period, head coach Keith McCambridge, on the night he turned 34, was forced to call upon Derek Gustafson in relief for the fourth time this season. Brown finished his night with nine saves on 13 shots. The Grizzlies did not let up, capitalizing on a turnover by the Aces in the midst of a power play to register their third shorthanded goal of the series, a wrist shot by

Keith Johnson (a linemate of Josh Soares at the University of Maine) that beat Gustafson at 3:23. Another goal by Bembridge at 4:52 pushed the margin to 6-0, and after Gustafson somehow stopped a two-on-none breakaway, former Ace Justin Johnson scored the third goal of his pro career (two of which have come vs. Alaska) on another breakaway with 11:01 still remaining in the second period. Bembridge completed his hat trick with a power play goal at 13:22, and the shell-shocked Aces found themselves down eight goals entering the final minute of the second period.

A power play goal by Matt Robinson with 15.7 seconds left in the middle frame put the Aces on the board, and Bo Cheesman's tip-in, his 20th goal of the year, left the score 8-2 only 1:07 into the third period. Soares scored his team-leading 21st of the season off the rush at 6:56 (ending a three-game drought, his longest of the season), and when Vladimir Novak scored his first goal in 10 games 33 seconds later, Alaska had crept to within 8-4 and Utah suddenly looked a bit shaky.

Bembridge put any Grizzly fears to rest with a backhander off the rush at 11:12, and though Robinson scored another power play goal with 6:50 remaining, the Aces failed to draw any closer. Mike Mole surrendered five goals on the last 17 shots he faced as Alaska piled up 43 for the game (two short of a season-high), while Gustafson made 15 saves on 20 shots in relief of Brown.

The Aces have dropped four in a row and six of their last seven and remain in fourth place in the West Division at 20-17-5 overall. Alaska also has lost four straight on the road and 10 of its previous 12 away from Sullivan Arena heading into tomorrow's series finale with Utah (22-19-4), a winner in four of the teams' five meetings this season. The puck drops at 5:05 p.m. AT tomorrow evening from the E Center. All regular season games are broadcast live on Alaska's flagship station, AM 750 KFQD, with coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to face-off.

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