Aces Rally past Steelheads
Published on January 24, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska â Mark Smith scored twice and Chris Lipsett notched the game-winner with 10:04 left in regulation as Alaska fought off a shaky start and upended Idaho 3-2 before 4,265 at Sullivan Arena.
Alaska goaltender Dan Murphy did not star well, allowing goals on the first two shots he faced before settling down and stopping the remaining 20. Miguel Delisle snapped a power play goal pas Murphy at 2:10 of the opening period, and Jan Kopecky followed 54 seconds later with a drive from just inside the blue line. Trailing 2-0 and shorthanded once again, the Aces seemed on the verge of getting blown out, but Smith made a steal at the blue line and went coast-to-coast finishing the rush with a wrist shot through the five hole of Idaho netminder Blair Allison to cut the deficit in half at 14:46. Alaska registered its league-best 11th shorthanded goal, while Idaho surrendered its league-worst 11th.
The Aces tied the game when Smith redirected a Lipsett shot from the high slot past Allison with 6:42 left in the second period, a period dominated by Alaska, with the shots 13-6 in favor of the home team. Having scored just one goal in his previous 17 games, Lipsett found himself all alone between the circles against Allison midway through the third period, deked the goaltender out of position, and flipped a backhander into the net for the winner. Idaho enjoyed another power play with just 2:46 left and pulled Allison for a six-on-four, but the Steelheads came up short and left with just their second loss since December 13, a span covering 16 games.
The Aces (23-14-3) ended a four-game losing streak and now have pulled within five points of first-place Idaho (25-12-4) for the Pacific Division lead heading into tomorrow night's rematch at 7:00 p.m. 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.
ECHL Stories from January 24, 2004
- Top line keeps rolling, Gulls win, 4-1 - San Diego Gulls
- Connolly's pair helps Bombers double up Rivermen, 4-2 - Dayton Bombers
- Checkers Break Scoreless Drought And Win 3-1 - Charlotte Checkers
- Gulls - Condors Game Preview - San Diego Gulls
- Bullies Send Cyclones Spinning 7-3 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Gladiators shut out by Stingrays, 2-0 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Rivermen Stopped on The Road in Dayton 4-2 - Peoria Rivermen
- Worcester Calls On Rudkowsky - Reading Royals
- IceGators Shut Out Wildcatters, 4-0 - Louisiana IceGators
- Deschenes Shines As Allen Blanks Express - Trenton Devils
- Nielsen Recalled to Wolves - Atlanta Gladiators
- Inferno come back to beat Pride in shootout - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Clones Add Defenseman Nick Cammarata - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Wranglers Kelly and Wright Recalled to AHL - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Game Preview: Idaho at Alaska - Idaho Steelheads
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Today In The ECHL - ECHL
- Henkel Returns As Bullies Make Roster Moves - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Falcons Pick-up a Point in Shootout Loss - Fresno Falcons
- Bombers/NASCAR Fans embrace Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to Packed Nutter Center House - Dayton Bombers
- Aces Rally past Steelheads - Alaska Aces
- Ice Dogs Lose To San Diego, 4-3, To End Win Streak - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- IceGators Defeat Wildcatters, 5-1 - Louisiana IceGators
- Greensboro Shuts Out Charlotte 1-0 - Charlotte Checkers
- Gulls Edge Ice Dogs, 4-3 - San Diego Gulls
- Condors Victorious in Fresno, 3-2 - Bakersfield Condors
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.
