Aces defeat Toledo, 6-2

February 23, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


TOLEDO, Ohio – Chris Minard, Chris Heisten, and Joe Talbot all scored twice as Alaska remained unbeaten on its tour through the North Division with a 6-2 thrashing of Toledo before 3,661 Wednesday morning at the Toledo Sports Arena.

The Aces looked shaky in the early going on the Storm's cramped ice (180' x 78'), giving up an early power play goal to Dan Eberly, whose drive from the high slot found the range just 1:32 into the game. Alaska slowly began to find its way, tying the contest when Minard scored the first of his two on the day with a wrist shot top shelf from the top of the left circle at 12:58.

The Aces took the lead for good when Talbot flicked in a rebound of a Ryan Moren shot from the point only 2:10 into the second period. With Alaska shorthanded, Talbot picked off a pass at the Toledo blue line and beat rookie goaltender Logan Koopmans high glove from long range at 4:32, pushing the margin to 3-1. When Heisten beat Koopmans with a wrist shot just underneath the crossbar three minutes later, the Storm (29-19-4) brought in veteran Scott Fankhouser to stem the tide. Rick Judson stunned Aces goaltender Peter Aubry by scoring directly off a draw to his right with 1:25 left to go in the period, but that proved to be Toledo's last gasp.

With a 4-2 lead entering the final 20 minutes, Alaska sealed its 13th victory in 16 games by tying an ECHL record with two goals in a three-second span early in the third period. Vladimir Novak again set up Heisten on the rush at 2:33, and after Scott Gomez (two assists) won the center ice face-off, Fankhouser misplayed Minard's knuckler from near the red line, giving the league's top sniper 34 on the year. For the third straight game, the Aces allowed a season-high in shots (47), but Aubry again looked sharp in raising his record to 11-2-3 over his last 16 starts. Alaska remains unbeaten in its last nine on the road (8-0-1) and in its seven games against North Division opposition (6-0-1). Meanwhile, the loss marked Toledo's first at home in 13 games dating to December 18.

The Aces, just two points off the West Division lead at 32-15-5 overall, will try to complete a near perfect road trip (3-0-1 thus far) tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. in a rematch with Peoria, broadcast live on KHAR AM 590. Coverage of all Alaska games begins 20 minutes prior to the opening face-off and also can be heard by logging onto www.alaskaaces.com. For tickets to this weekend's home games against West Division rival Fresno (Saturday, 2:05 p.m., Sunday, 5:05 p.m.) or information on purchasing 2005-06 season tickets, please call 258-ACES.



ECHL Stories from February 23, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central