Aces Clinch Division Title With 5-1 Win In Vegas
March 19, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
Brian Swanson had a goal and two assists, Gerald Coleman made 26 saves, and the Alaska Aces used five different scorers to beat the Las Vegas Wranglers 5-1 from the Orleans Arena on Saturday Night to clinch the 2011 Mountain Division crown. The Aces win was their eighth in the last nine games, and coupled with Idaho's loss in Stockton, the Aces wrapped up the Division title. They retained an eight point lead in first place in the Western Conference over Bakersfield, and jumped in front of Greenville for the most points in the ECHL. Alaska's record improved to 41-21-4 on the year. The Aces and Wranglers are back to close Alaska's road-trip at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday. For more information, and the latest promotional news and updates, fans can visit the Aces at their Facebook page for more information, or call the Aces at 907.258.ACES.
A wild first period opened the hockey game with the teams exploding onto the scoreboard. The Aces lit the lamp first when Brian Swanson tracked down a loose puck and cut through the Vegas zone for a shorthanded tally at 3:05 of the frame. Las Vegas answered on another Wranglers power play when Tyler Mosienko scored on a rebound at 7:55. The Wranglers gained momentum from the goal and were crashing for the go-ahead tally, but Alaska held off the charge and fought back with two quick strikes. Dan Kissel scored on a two-on-one with a shot from the top of the left circle at 11:05 to give Alaska a 2-1 lead. On the next shift, the Aces increased the lead to 3-1 when Scott Howes scored his 22nd of the year on a wraparound goal 34 seconds later. The Aces took the two-goal lead into the intermission break after being outshot 14-9 in the period.
Alaska got the only goal of the second period when Mark Isherwood scored right off of an offensive zone face-off at 2:12. The Wranglers received four power plays in the second period, but could not convert to close the gap. Las Vegas outshot Alaska 7-6 in the second period, and the Aces took the 4-1 lead into the third period.
Ethan Cox scored the Aces' second shorthanded goal of the game at 10:33 of the third period for the frame's only tally to secure the Aces win and Mountain Division title.
Gerald Coleman (26-14-1) earned the win, making 26 saves on 27 shots. Billy Sauer (6-10-3) suffered the loss, making 14 saves on 19 shots. The Aces power play went 0-5, while the Wranglers went 1-9. The Aces outshot the Wranglers 27-19 in the game.
The Aces and Wranglers are back to close Alaska's road-trip at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday. For the most up-to-date team and promotional information, please visit the Aces on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/alaskaaceshockey. Fans can also call the Aces office at 907.258.ACES.
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ECHL Stories from March 19, 2011
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