Aces Score Six In Third To Clip Falcons

November 17, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - In a game that defied all logic, the Alaska Aces gave up five unanswered goals in the second period before recovering to reel off six straight in the third for an improbable 7-5 win over the Fresno Falcons in front of 4,737 mesmerized spectators at Sullivan Arena.

Alaska's last four wins all have come when trailing after two periods, surpassing its victory total under those circumstances from a year ago. After tonight's game, the Aces now have been out-scored 15-6 in the second period through 12 games, but have rallied to overwhelm their opposition by a combined 20-9 in the third.

The game began innocently enough, as defenseman Bryan Miller gave Alaska a 1-0 lead with a power play goal at 13:33 of the first period. But Fresno stormed back in the second, scoring five goals in a span of 9:22 to take complete command. Mike Ramsay banged home a power play goal at 3:58 and Kenny Bernard's first goal as a pro came less than two minutes later. Tyler Kindle beat a screened Derek Gustafson on another power play at 8:36 to give the Falcons a 3-0 bulge. Oren Eisenman converted an Aces turnover into his team-leading fifth goal of the year with 9:30 left in the frame, and Kenny MacAulay's first professional goal completed the outburst less than three minutes later. Gustafson was pulled after the second period, having stopped 20 of 25 shots, while Matt Shasby and Olivier Filion left the game with injuries.

Seemingly beaten, Alaska came out for the third period with Chris Beckford-Tseu in net, and Fresno began to implode by taking penalties. Matt Robinson flicked home a rebound on an Aces power play just 90 seconds into the final period, and when Miller and Kimbi Daniels scored 27 seconds apart, both goals coming with the man advantage, the deficit was suddenly down to 5-4 with 12 minutes left in regulation. F.P. Guenette swept home a loose puck following a determined flurry in front of beleaguered goalie John Ceci for the equalizer with 3:44 remaining. Another Falcons penalty led to Miller's third and Alaska's fifth power play goal of the night, the eventual game-winner with 2:33 showing on the clock. Daniels polished off the remarkable rally with a backhander on a breakaway at 18:23, and just missed a hat trick as time expired, as his floater from beyond the blue line sailed just wide of the vacant Fresno net.

At 8-3-1, the Aces remain one point out of the West Division lead, held by Victoria (9-3). Alaska and Fresno (4-4-2) complete their three-game series tomorrow night at 7:15 p.m. All regular season games are broadcast live on Alaska's flagship station, AM 750 KFQD, with coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to the opening face-off.

By virtue of Miller's hat trick, John Bower will be headed to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies in Mexico, courtesy of Action Security. By scoring seven goals, the Aces also made a winner out of Beverley Hayes, who will be headed to Las Vegas, thanks to KeyBank (who will award $700 in spending money) and USTravel, the official travel agency of the Alaska Aces and the airfare provider on the "Lucky 7 to Vegas" promotion.



ECHL Stories from November 17, 2007


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