Aces roll over Idaho, 6-3
January 29, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska â Fresh off a trip to the ECHL All-Star Game and a call-up to the American Hockey League, Chris Minard scored two power play goals in a span of 3:25 to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead Alaska would not relinquish in an eventual 6-3 victory over Idaho Friday in front of 4,590 at Sullivan Arena.
The Aces came in ranked number one in the league in shots against but gave up 16 in the first period alone, the highest total against in a single period since the season opener in Boise October 22. Alaska nevertheless grabbed a 1-0 lead when Ryan Moren launched a drive that beat Steelheads goalie Frank Doyle five-hole at 6:38. Idaho tied the game 1-1 when Scott Burt scored on a delayed penalty call at 15:08, a goal that appeared to occur a few seconds after the net had come off its moorings. Seizing the change in momentum, the Steelheads struck again on a power play, as Bobby Russell found the range with 13.6 seconds left in the opening frame.
Still trailing 2-1 and approaching the midway point of the second period, the Aces were poised to go on a power play when Matt Elich was whistled for slashing. But behind the play, Billy Tibbetts, playing for his third West Division team this season, took a five-minute major for slashing Cal Benazic in the back of the legs, giving Alaska a two-man advantage. Minard smoked a pass from Scott Gomez by Doyle to tie the game 2-2 at 8:24, and with the penalty against Tibbetts still in effect, Linglet went upstairs with a wrist shot two minutes later and Minard came through with a perfect redirection of a Mike Scott drive at 11:49. Mike Jones assisted on all three goals for the Aces, who enjoyed a 4-2 lead over the stunned Steelheads heading to intermission.
Gomez chased Doyle with his sixth goal of the year only 1:10 into the final period, and while Brett Draney trimmed the margin to 5-3 on another power play for the Steelheads less than two minutes later, the goal proved to be Idaho's last gasp. Mike Lee put the game away with 7:55 left, scoring off the rush after a crisp pass from linemate Chris Heisten. Minard, the league leader with 28 goals, and Gomez, who pushed his ECHL-high assist total to 43, each finished with three points on the night, while goaltender Peter Aubry remained unbeaten in his last eight starts (6-0-2) with 28 saves.
Alaska retains sole possession of third place in the West Division at 23-13-4 overall, with four consecutive wins and a 10-1-2 record over its last 13 games. The Aces face the sixth-place Steelheads (19-18-3) for the final two times during the regular season tomorrow at 7:15 p.m. and Sunday at 5:05 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live on flagship station KFQD 750 AM and at www.alaskaaces.com, where Alaska's home games and selected road contests also can be seen on a pay-per-view basis, courtesy of B2 Networks. Coverage begins 20 minutes prior to face-off.
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