Aces Outlast Steelheads 6-5 In Shootout

February 20, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


The Alaska Aces overcame a two-goal, third period deficit, and killed off three late overlapping penalties to outlast the Idaho Steelheads 6-5 in a shootout on Saturday night at the Qwest Arena in Boise, ID. The Aces win completed a four-game road sweep against division rivals Utah and Idaho, and was their seventh win in the last eight games. The Aces extended their lead to three points over Utah, while keeping two games in hand, for first place in the Mountain Division. Alaska improved to 31-19-3 on the year. The Aces return to Alaska on Thursday night to begin a three-week set with the Las Vegas Wranglers. 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.

Alaska got on the board first when Scott Howes scored from the slot at 4:23 of the opening frame. The score remained 1-0 for the next nine minutes as Idaho peppered the Alaska net, but Aces goaltender Adam Courchaine stood strong between the pipes. The Steelheads eventually broke through when Marty Flichel scored on a power play at 13:12 to tie the score. Alaska reclaimed the lead on a four-on-three power play goal at 18:47 from Mark Isherwood to make it 2-1 Aces at first intermission.

The Aces added to their lead early in the second period when Dan Kissel struck on a power play at 3:09 to make it 3-1. But the Steelheads came charging back and had three straight goals to take the lead. First Junior Lessard scored on a power play at 5:35 to cut Alaska's lead to one. Then Evan Barlow scored 76 seconds later to tie the score, and added another power play goal at 12:09 to give Idaho a 4-3 lead. Late in the period, Wes Goldie hit two crossbars on the same Aces power play, and the Steelheads hung on to their lead through the second intermission.

The Steelheads extended their lead to a pair when Flichel scored a power play rebound goal early in the third period. With the Aces trailing 5-3 midway through the frame, the comeback started. Kory Falite scored on a turnaround shot from the slot at 11:13 to cut the Idaho lead to 5-4. Then with time winding down on a five-on-three power play, Isherwood pulled the Aces back even with a slapshot goal at 15:16. In the final three minutes of regulation, with the score tied 5-5, the Aces were whistled for three minor penalties within 99 seconds, to give the Steelheads top-ranked, power play unit a two-man advantage for over two minutes. The Aces held off the power play though, and then kept the score tied through overtime. In the extra session, Adam Courchaine stopped all five shooters he faced, and Scott Burt's fourth round tally was the only goal, and enough for the Aces to complete the improbable comeback victory.

Adam Courchaine (10-6-1) made 35 saves on 40 shots, earning the win. Jase Weslowsky (7-6-2) suffered the loss, making 34 saves on 39 shots. The Aces power play went 3-5, while the Steelheads went 4-9. The Aces and the Steelheads each had 40 shots in the game.



ECHL Stories from February 20, 2011


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