Aces keep pace with Utah, rally for shootout victory

March 29, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Ryan Walters scored two goals, added an assist and buried a shootout dagger to lift the Alaska Aces in a come-from-behind, 5-4 shootout victory over the Stockton Thunder before 5,216 fans at Stockton Arena on Saturday.

Alaska rallied from a 4-3 deficit in the third period, boosted by Walters' game tying goal with 6:22 left and goaltender Troy Redmann won his fourth straight road game with 25 saves, stopping all four Stockton shooters in the shootout. The Aces maintained a one point pace behind fourth place Utah for the final playoff spot after the Grizzlies outlasted Idaho for a shootout victory in West Valley City.

Special teams took command for both sides: the Aces ripped off a 2-of-4 effort on the power play, scoring on their first two opportunities while Stockton capitalized on two of three opportunities.

The four goals in regulation gave the Aces 22 goals in the last three games, a new club record for that span which surpassed 21 goals in 2004-05, set from Dec. 31-Jan. 5 (5-4 OT win vs. San Diego, 6-3 win and 10-3 win at Victoria).

Garet Hunt earned his 12th goal of the season, a rebound to the glove of Redmann, just 22 seconds into the game for a 1-0 lead and starter Lucas Gore kept the Aces at bay with ten saves in the first period. But the Aces got into a rhythm with three goals in a span of 7:34 to assume a 3-2 lead, beginning on Connolly's tap-in, converting backdoor feed by Chris Francis at 3:15 for a power play goal and 1-1 draw.

Brad Cole and Brendan Connolly generated a rebound at the Stockton net and Wolfe's forehand bid put the Aces ahead, 2-1 at 4:09, but Stockton responded just 1:51 later on a power play. Brad Stebner fired a one-timer through traffic, glancing off J.T. Barnett for a 2-2 game. But Walters' power play goal, a wrister wired past Gore's blocker, restored the lead at 3-2 with 10:49 elapsed.

Just 24 seconds later, J.P. Chabot cashed in with another screen and converted Adam Phillips' point shot for a 3-3 tie. The Aces had to escape penalty trouble early and a 5-on-3 situation cost them with Phillips' drive from the right point deflecting past Redmann at 4:46, lifting Stockton to a 4-3 lead.

The Aces also had to shake off Corey Syvret's four-minute double minor, but kept the game to a one-goal margin which set up Walters' late goal. Landon Oslanski hammered a point shot through traffic that Gore had trouble handling. Wolfe followed up with a rebound onto the tape of Walters, who buried a tap in at the right post for a 4-4 tie.

Alaska escaped Stockton's pressure in the offensive zone in the final minute of regulation and the teams traded three shots apiece in overtime. Walters opened the shootout by whistling a wrist shot past Gore's blocker, and Connolly beat Gore over the glove in the second round for a 2-0 cushion.

Redmann sealed the game with a fourth round stop on Tyler Shattock's deke.

Gore fell to 1-3-1 with 37 saves.



ECHL Stories from March 29, 2015


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