Aces rally past Steelheads, 3-1
March 12, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Peter Metcalf and Justin Maiser scored 35 seconds apart to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead as the Aces rallied for an eventual 3-1 win over Idaho in front of 5,349 Saturday night at Sullivan Arena.
Alaska has not lost two games in a row all year, but a power play goal by Kurt MacSweyun with 18 seconds left in the first period appeared as though it might hold up for Idaho, looking to send the Aces to a second straight defeat at home for the first time since the 2004 playoffs. Steelheads goaltender Matt Yeats protected the slim lead deep into the third period, when Vladimir Novak went coast-to-coast before spinning and finding Metcalf in the slot for a one-timer that tied the contest with 8:30 left in regulation. Maiser beat Yeats low stick side on Alaska's next shot and suddenly the Aces held a 2-1 edge with 7:55 remaining.
Idaho defenseman Blake Forsyth took a five-minute major for slashing shortly thereafter and Maiser and Kimbi Daniels set up Patrick Wellar in the slot for the power play goal at 14:39 that sealed the victory, Alaska's 46th of the year, tying a club record held by the 1998-99 team. Matt Underhill picked up his 30th win between the pipes with 17 saves, as the Aces (46-9-4) allowed just three shots in the third period and out-shot the Steelheads 26-11 over the final 40 minutes.
Alaska maintains a two-point lead over Las Vegas (who completed a three-game sweep at Victoria Saturday) heading into tomorrow's series finale with Idaho at 5:05 p.m., the final KeyBank Sunday "Skate with the Aces." All Alaska Aces games are broadcast live on KFQD AM 750 and at www.alaskaaces.com, where all home games and selected road contests also are available on a pay-per-view basis, courtesy of B2 Networks.
ECHL Stories from March 12, 2006
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- Cunningham Rescues Gulls In Shootout, 2-1 - San Diego Gulls
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- Fast Start Leads Falcons to Victory - Fresno Falcons
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- Reaching Into a Bag Of Tricks - Stockton Thunder
- Royals Defeat Dayton, 3-1 - Reading Royals
- Checkers lose to Gwinnett for second straight night 6-3 - Charlotte Checkers
- Aces rally past Steelheads, 3-1 - Alaska Aces
- Aces' Late Flurry Downs Steelheads, 3-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Monych Hat Trick Does In Condors - Bakersfield Condors
- Ice Dogs Beat Rivals, Down Gulls 3-2 - Long Beach Ice Dogs
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