Aces Stage Remarkable Comeback to Earn Improbable Point

Published on January 25, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Alaska scored three times in the final 5:14 of regulation to rally from a 4-1 deficit and salvage a point in a 5-4 shootout loss Saturday before 7,316 at Stockton Arena.

The Aces (24-14-3) saw their four-game winning streak come to an end, but remain unbeaten in their last five games heading into Wednesday's series opener against Ontario at Sullivan Arena. The Reign, currently the Pacific Division leaders, make their initital trek to Anchorage in a three-game set that continues Friday and Saturday. All three games start at 7:15 p.m.

Saturday's game started slowly, with the teams combining for merely 13 shots on net, but Alaska scored on its first shot on goal, breaking an 0-for-22 slump on the power play in the process, as Luke Erickson's hit shook the puck free from a Stockton defenseman, and his deft centering pass to Scott Burt left the captain all alone in front of Thunder goalie Andrew Perugini. Burt's seventh goal of the year, and second in as many nights, gave the visitors a 1-0 lead that held up until Cory Urquhart whistled a wrist shot over Jean-Philippe Lamoureux's right shoulder for the equalizer eight minutes into the second period.

The contest remained knotted at 1-1 until Stockton drew a five-on-three power play opportunity five minutes into the third period, which James Bates converted with a rocket from the high slot. A scrum in front of, and then behind, Lamoureux resulted in a goal for Garet Hunt at 7:33, and when Damian Surma scored from point blank range between the circles barely a minute later, the Thunder had broken open the game with three goals in a span of 3:36 and held a 4-1 lead.

Luke Erickson started the comeback by working a give-and-go with Brett Hemingway, scoring on a wrist shot from the left circle, his seventh goal in 10 games and 12th of the year. Burt fed Bryan Miller for a one-timer from a similar spot with 3:03 remaining, and the Aces were within 4-3. With Colin Hemingway in the penalty box serving a five-minute major for boarding, head coach Keith McCambridge pulled Lamoureux with more than two and a half minutes remaining. When Stockton's Geoff Paukovich took a double minor for roughing with less than a minute to play, Alaska had five skaters to the Thunder's four. After a couple of failed clearing attempts, Miller fed Shasby back door for a virtual tap-in with 4.6 seconds remaining to create a 4-4 tie.

The Aces failed to convert nearly three and a half minutes of power play in overtime, and Stockton finally solved Lamoureux in the shootout, scoring three times in four attempts, while Erickson notched the only goal against Perugini. Alaska was out-shot 32-23, and still has only one win in five games against the Thunder (1-2-2). The Aces have beaten the Reign two out of three this season, with all three games having been played in California. Next week's games will be broadcast live on KFQD AM 750, with the Peanut Farm Pre-Game Show getting underway 15 minutes prior to the opening face-off.

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ECHL Stories from January 25, 2009


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