Aces pull off 5-4 OT win

Published on December 10, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


FRESNO, Calif. – Charles Linglet scored two minutes into overtime as Alaska held off the pesky Fresno Falcons 5-4 Tuesday night at the Save Mart Center.

For the 11th time in 12 games, the Aces scored first, thanks to Mike Scott's ability to fight off a backcheck and fire home a rebound of a Mark Smith shot at 4:43 of the opening period. But an Alaska turnover after the center ice face-off led to the immediate equalizer, as Boris Protsenko scored on his first shift as a Falcon 13 seconds after Scott's goal. Joe Talbot launched a slapshot that found the range just inside the left post at 8:52, but again, Fresno had a quick response, tying the game 2-2 on the power play when Greg Bullock smacked in a rebound with 9:48 left in the period.

The Falcons grabbed their first lead of the night just 2:13 into the middle frame on Blair Clarance's second goal of the year. But this time Alaska had an immediate reply, as Wes Dorey, who had missed the last five games due to injury, banged in a rebound of a Dave Csumrik wrister from the point at 8:56 to deadlock the contest 3-3 heading into the final 20 minutes.

Csumrik went coast-to-coast to regain the lead for the Aces with 4:10 remaining in regulation, beating Terry Friesen with a wrist shot from the top of the right circle. But for the third time, Fresno rallied, sending the game into overtime as Brad Mehalko scored on a rebound with 32.1 seconds to go and the extra attacker on the ice. After Alaska failed to score on a power play to begin overtime, the game-winning flurry started with a wrist shot from the point by Jonathan Gauthier. Friesen stopped the initial shot as well as Talbot's rebound, but Linglet would not be denied, burying his 11th of the year to finally snuff out the Falcons' hopes of snapping what now has stretched to an eight-game winless skid. Alaska stands unbeaten in six games (5-0-1) and now holds a four-point lead in the Pacific Division over second-place Las Vegas and Idaho.

The Aces, 15-8-2 overall, will not play again until Las Vegas invades Sullivan Arena to open a 10-game homestand December 19-20. Prior to the Friday, December 19 game at 7:00 p.m., Dean Larson, the all-time leading scorer in the history of the West Coast Hockey League, will see his #18 jersey raised to the rafters. Alaska Aces games are broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM and at www.alaskaaces.com, with Jack Michaels calling the play-by-play. Coverage begins 20 minutes prior to the opening face-off, presented by GCI.

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