Aces claim West with 6-3 win at Fresno

Published on April 8, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - Mike Scott hammered home a slap shot to snap a 3-3 tie midway through the final period as Alaska claimed its second straight West Division title with a 6-3 victory over Fresno in front of 4,414 Friday night at the Save-Mart Center.

The Aces fell behind in the game's first minute, as a floater off the stick of defenseman Shawn Weiman sailed over a screened Matt Underhill for a 1-0 Fresno lead. Alaska quickly responded, as Barrett Heisten hit Chris Minard with a perfect pass coming over the Falcons blue line, and last year's ECHL goal-scoring champion made no mistake, beating Fresno goalie Jamie Holden blocker side on the ensuing breakaway at 2:04. Olivier Filion deked Holden out of position and snapped a wrist shot just inside the right goal post for his 11th of the year at 4:54 to give the Aces their first lead at 2-1. Shawn Mather scored a power play goal with 1:53 left in the period to forge a 2-2 deadlock heading to the break.

Matt Shasby, who scored the game-winner Tuesday night against the Falcons, put Alaska back in front at 9:44 of the second period by punching home a rebound for his seventh goal of the season. But for the second time, Fresno managed a power play goal late in the period, as Dustin Vanballegooie took advantage of heavy traffic in front of Underhill with a wrist shot that tied the game 3-3 at 17:07.

Scott's game-winner, his team-leading 37th goal of the year, came at the tail end of a power play when he carried the puck over the line and the Falcons inexplicably backed off, allowing him to wind up and fire the puck just inside the right post. Justin Maiser sealed the win with an empty-netter at 19:18, and Mike Lee accounted for the final margin with another blast 22 seconds later.

Alaska needed to produce the second-greatest season in ECHL history to caputre the West Division (53-11-7, 113 points), but now its Saturday game in Bakersfield at 6:00 p.m. AST becomes meaningless. The Aces will open the playoffs at home against Utah Monday and Tuesday night at 7:15 p.m., the first two games of a best-of-seven series. All Alaska Aces games are broadcast live on KFQD AM 750 and at www.alaskaaces.com, where all home games and selected road contests also are available on a pay-per-view basis, courtesy of B2 Networks.

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