Aces, Gustafson, blank Victoria 2-0
January 26, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Derek Gustafson stopped all 33 shots he faced, including 21 in the third period alone, as the Alaska Aces picked up their first shutout of the season with a 2-0 decision over Victoria in front of 4,518 Friday at Sullivan Arena.
Following up on a season-high 41 saves in a 2-1 loss at Idaho last Saturday, Gustafson saw just 12 shot come his way in the first two periods, as the Aces stifled the West Division leaders, who came in with the most goals in the National Conference. Josh Soares scored the game's only goal over the first 40 minutes, ripping his 20th of the year past Victoria (and ECHL All-Star Game) starter Julien Ellis.
The Salmon Kings out-shot Alaska by a three-to-one margin in the final period and 33-25 for the game, but never solved Gustafson, and Bo Cheesman scored his 18th goal of the season off the rush at 9:02 of the third period to seal only the second win for the Aces in their last seven games. Alaska has taken three of four from Victoria this season, and owns a 27-4-4 mark lifetime against the 'Kings during the regular season, including 13-2-1 in Anchorage. The Aces also won a first-round playoff series between the two clubs last year.
The three-game series, the first of three in a row for Alaska (20-13-5) coming in a three-games-in-three-nights format, continues tomorrow night at 7:15 p.m. The four other teams in the West Division lost, leaving the Aces 10 points behind Victoria (25-11-5) and four in arrears of defending Kelly Cup champion Idaho. Sunday's series finale, featuring a Fred Meyer post-game "Skate with the Aces" and the GCI 100,000th Fan promotion, begins at 5:05 p.m. All regular season games are broadcast live on Alaska's flagship station, AM 750 KFQD, with coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to the opening face-off.
ECHL Stories from January 26, 2008
- Grizzlies Fall Saturday In Las Vegas - Utah Grizzlies
- Nailers Do Everything but Score - Wheeling Nailers
- Chiefs Win Second Straight at Home against Dayton - Johnstown Chiefs
- Royals Pick Up Another Late Game Win In Trenton, 3-1 - Reading Royals
- Pack chases Catters, comeback falls short - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Gwinnett Slides by Ice Pilots 3-1 - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- 'Blades upended by Stingrays 3-2 - Florida Everblades
- Gladiators Win Second Straight, Beat Pensacola 3-1 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Cyclones Blank Wheeling, 2-0 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Stingrays Make it 6 in a Row With 3-2 Win Over Blades - South Carolina Stingrays
- Bombers unable to bounce back, falling 2-1 - Dayton Bombers
- Devils Drop a Tough One to Reading, 3-1 - Trenton Devils
- Checkers can't contain Inferno, lose 6-3 - Charlotte Checkers
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Wildcatters Nip Shortmanned Sea Wolves 4-1 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- D-Man Henry re-assigned to Blades from Rochester - Florida Everblades
- Condors Game Preview - Bakersfield Condors
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Phoenix Roadrunners - Stockton Thunder
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Aces, Gustafson, blank Victoria 2-0 - Alaska Aces
- Benedict Leads Catters to 4-1 Win Over Sea Wolves - Texas Wildcatters
- Condors extend unbeaten streak, beat RoadRunners, 4-2 - Bakersfield Condors
- Winning Streak Comes To An End As Steelheads Blasted By Falcons 6-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Condors Fly Past RoadRunners 4-2 - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Curtin, Eizenman Lead Falcons Past Steelheads 6-1 - Fresno Falcons
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.
