Aces cruise to victory over Las Vegas with four unanswered goals
January 16, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Peter Sivak scored two goals, added an assist and the Alaska Aces (22-9-3, 47 points) smashed the Las Vegas Wranglers in a 5-2 victory at Sullivan Arena on Wednesday night .
The Aces, who have earned points in nine of the last eleven games, cruised on the strength of four unanswered goals in the opening period while chasing starter Mitch O'Keefe after 20 minutes. David Eddy, James Martin and Ross Ring-Jarvi also added goals for the Aces.
Olivier Roy earned the win with 22 saves.
Eddy's sharp-angled shot, set up by Shawn Skelly at the base of the left circle, trickled off the right pad of O'Keefe for the game opening goal, 8:40 into the opening period. Martin followed by hammering a one-timer from the slot past O'Keefe for a 2-0 lead with 5:09 left, set up by Tim Coffman's feed from the left corner.
With the Aces shorthanded, Brad Gorham produced a turnover at center ice - a deflection off his face - and the puck bounced onto Ring-Jarvi's stick. With the Wranglers caught at center ice, Ring-Jarvi got behind the defense for a breakaway goal (backhander at O'Keefe's blocker) for a 3-0 lead with 2:41 remaining.
O'Keefe was lifted in the second period for backup Travis Fullerton.
Sivak then finished Mathew Sisca's feed at the goal mouth with 35 seconds left in the period for a power play goal and the Aces went into cruising mode with a 4-0 lead.
John Armstrong got Las Vegas on the board with a wrist shot that deflected off Roy's glove with 8:30 left in the second period, but the Aces boosted their lead to 5-1 on Sivak's second goal of the game.
Tommy Mele raced into the Las Vegas zone with the puck, drawing three Wranglers defenders into the slot. Mele then snuck a backhanded feed to Sivak, left wide open at the right circle, who proceeded to bury a wrister past Fullerton's blocker.
Chad Nehring finished the scoring at 6:16 of the third period on the power play.
O'Keefe, who surrendered four goals on 12 shots, took the loss. Fullerton stopped 17 shots.
NOTES: The Aces scratched Ben Parker, Sean Curry, Andy Taranto, Corey Syvret and B.J. Crum .... Brendan Connolly, who made his return after missing the previous eight games due to a facial injury, fired five shots on goal and also missed a snap shot off the crossbar ... the Aces outshot Las Vegas, 30-24 ... Sivak improved his scoring run to eight points in the last three games.
The two teams square off in a rematch at Sullivan Arena on Friday at 7:15 p.m. (GCI/KFQD). Season ticket and sponsorship packages are currently available through the Aces office at 15th & Gambell. For more information, please call the Aces at 907.258.ACES or visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey.
Three Stars:
1. AK - P. Sivak
2. AK - R. Ring-Jarvi
3. AK - B. Connolly
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