Aces bounce back, drill 'Runners, 6-3
February 17, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
PHOENIX - Linemates Kimbi Daniels and Joe Talbot combined for seven points as Alaska snapped its three-game winless streak on the road with a 6-3 drubbing of Phoenix before 5,977 Saturday at the US Airways Center.
In stark contrast to Friday's game, when Alaska waited nearly 38 minutes for its first goal, the Aces struck twice in the game's first four minutes on the power play. Daniels scored the first of his two goals on a shot from the left circle that was inadvertently deflected past goalie Mike Morrison by defenseman Chris Cava at 2:27. Barely a minute later, Stephen Wood found Mike Scott alone in the left circle for a one-timer and a 2-0 lead. Justin Aikins scored his 20th goal of the year to trim the Phoenix deficit in half at 15:14 on a shot that caromed off the blocker of Derek Gustafson and trickled into the back of the net.
Gustafson atoned for that miscue by stopping Olivier Latendresse on a penalty shot at 6:40 of the second period, and Alaska never looked back, as Daniels rammed home a rebound for his second of the game at 12:48 and Talbot followed with the first of his two less than three minutes later. Talbot's second of the night came at the 3:45 mark of the third period and gave the Aces a commanding 5-1 bulge. Lance Monych cut the gap to 5-2 two minutes later, but 'Runner hopes were short-lived, as Jeff Smith tipped in a Wood shot from the point for his second goal of the year and Alaska's third power play tally of the night with 12:28 remaining. Greg Hornby accounted for the game's final margin with Phoenix's third goal at 10:43, but the Aces cruised home behind Gustafson's 31 saves and a penalty-killing unit that has erased 21 of 22 RoadRunners power play opportunities over five games head-to-head.
Alaska (36-13-3) leads the entire ECHL by seven points heading into its final regular season meeting with Phoenix Tuesday at 5:11 p.m. AST, with live coverage beginning at 4:50 p.m. on the flagship home of Alaska Aces hockey, KFQD 750 AM. The Aces will take Sunday off and practice Monday at 11:30 p.m. AST in preparation for their match-up with the 'Runners (23-23-4), who have won just one of their last eight games.
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