Aces Squeeze Past RoadRunners 4-2

February 29, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


PHOENIX, Ariz. - Daniel Sisca scored a pair of goals and goaltender Taylor Dakers stopped 31 shots in his RoadRunners debut, but the Alaska Aces used two goals from Matt Robinson to defeat the Phoenix RoadRunners 4-2 before 4,477 at US Airways Center in ECHL action Friday.

Alaska (30-19-5) opened the scoring at 15:19 of the first period when Brett Hemingway scored on a back-door play at the side of the RoadRunners net.

The Aces built their lead to two goals just 2:24 into the second period as Robinson collected Corbin Schmidt's rebound and stuffed it behind Dakers. The RoadRunners (18-33-7) countered at 9:11 to cut the deficit to 2-1. Taylor Christie's shot from the left point deflected off Alaska goalie Mike Brown's glove, and Sisca knocked the rebound down and into the cage for the tally. The two clubs would trade goals in the final minute of the second period. Josh Soares found an open Vladimir Novak at the left side of the net, and Novak went upstairs with a shot beating Dakers over the left shoulder at 19:08 to give Alaska a 3-1 lead. Phoenix responded 13 seconds later when off an Alaska turnover in their defensive zone, Dusty Jamieson found a wide open Sisca who slapped the puck by Brown and in at 19:21 to pull the RoadRunners to within one goal heading into the second intermission.

In a third period in which Alaska out-shot Phoenix 14-9, neither club could find the back of the net as both goalies Dakers and Brown did their jobs. Robinson put the finishing touches on the win when he scored into the empty-net at 19:07.

Phoenix out-shot Alaska 40-35. Dakers fell to 0-1-0 on the season. The RoadRunners went 0-5 on the power play while Alaska was 0-6 with the man-advantage.

Notes: Sisca's multi-goal game was his second of the year, and the multiple-point game was his team-leading 14th of the season...RoadRunners defenseman Chris Murray was released from his professional try-out agreement with Springfield of the American Hockey League Thursday, and today signed a PTO with Albany...Dakers made his debut after being re-assigned from San Jose of the National Hockey League this morning. He is the first player assigned to the RoadRunners this season from their AHL affiliate in Worcester.

The RoadRunners and Alaska Aces conclude their three-game series at 1:00 p.m. Sunday at US Airways Center. Following the game, join RoadRunners' players and coaches on the ice for a special post-game skate.

Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online at ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office. Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2007-08 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.



ECHL Stories from February 29, 2008


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