Aces Stretch West Lead to Three
Published on March 14, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Alaska stormed back from a 3-1 deficit after two periods to become the second ECHL team to officially clinch a playoff spot with a 5-4 overtime victory over Phoenix before 4,912 Friday at Sullivan Arena.
The Aces (38-21-3) also increased their West Division lead to three points over second-place Idaho and to nine over third-place Victoria, both of whom lost Friday night. Alaska owns the league's best home record at 26-7-1, with two more games left against the Roadrunners; tomorrow at 7:15 p.m. and Sunday's finale at 3:05 p.m., which will be followed by a Fan Appreciation Party in the tent located immediately outside Sullivan Arena.
As he did in Wednesday's 5-0 romp over Phoenix, Brett Hemingway gave the Aces an early 1-0 lead with a power play goal at 4:33 of the first period, but the home team squandered five other chances with the man advantage in the opening 20 minutes Daniel Sisca pulled the 'Runners even at 1-1 with the first of his two goals at 6:05.
Michael Cohen pushed Phoenix ahead for the first time in the series with a wrist shot off the rush that went through J.P. Lamoureux's pads at 6:02 of the second period, and when Sisca stole the puck in the Alaska zone and scored on a wraparound through the wickets three minutes later, the Roadrunners suddenly had a 3-1 lead and 2006 Kelly Cup hero Chris Beckford-Tseu (20 saves in 40 minutes) playing well against his former team.
The Aces quickly forged a 3-3 tie, as Luke Erickson scored his 19th goal of the year from the slot just 1:24 into the final period on a shot that was tipped over a prostrate Beckford-Tseu, then Lance Galbraith ripped a slap shot just underneath the crossbar on another Alaska power play at 5:42. Cohen whacked a puck out of mid-air off the rush to give Phoenix its last lead at 4-3 with 13:41 left in regulation, but 36 seconds later, Colin Hemingway brought the Aces even again with a backhander on a rebound for his team-leading 22nd goal of the season.
The Roadrunners (26-29-4) managed to hang on to get into overtime despite being out-shot 13-6 over the final 20 minutes. Alaska took eight of the first nine shots in OT before Lance Galbraith set up Alexandre Imbeault for the game-winner for the left circle with 36.3 seconds left in the extra session. All games are broadcast live on KFQD AM 750, with Peanut Farm Pre-Game Show coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to the opening face-off.
ECHL Stories from March 14, 2009
- Idaho's leading scorer returned from the American Hockey League - Idaho Steelheads
- Reign fall to Salmon Kings in SO - Ontario Reign
- Wranglers Stop Steelheads 3-0 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Victoria ties game late in regulation, defeats Ontario 4-3 in a shootout - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Grizzlies Win 4-3 In Bakersfield - Utah Grizzlies
- Royals Luck Runs Dry in 'St. Hattrick's Day' Loss to Trenton, 3-1 - Reading Royals
- Blades ride goaltending to 3-2 win over Mississippi - Florida Everblades
- Chiefs drop high scoring affair - Johnstown Chiefs
- Bombers Battle Elmira, Fall 4-2 - Dayton Bombers
- Cincinnati's Salekin Suspended One Game - ECHL
- Wheeling Offense Racks Up 5 Goals in 7 Minute Stretch of 2nd Period - Wheeling Nailers
- Jackals Win 4-2 in Fight Fest - Elmira Jackals
- Devils Move to First Place After Win in Reading, 3-1 - Trenton Devils
- Falardeau and Bayrack net two goals in 4-3 win - Charlotte Checkers
- Gladiators clipped by Checkers in 4-3 loss - Atlanta Gladiators
- Royals Sign Goaltender Beau Erickson - Reading Royals
- Chiefs Receive Garlock From Syracuse - Johnstown Chiefs
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Wranglers Shuffle the Deck, Taylor Returns, Two Rookies Added - Bakersfield Condors
- Bakersfield Brontos vs. Utah Grizzlies - Bakersfield Condors
- Nailers Look To Make It Three Straight Against Chiefs - Wheeling Nailers
- Bombers Bolster Offense, Sign Gervais - Dayton Bombers
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Steelheads Fall In Las Vegas, 4-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Aces Stretch West Lead to Three - Alaska Aces
- Aces Rally To Top RoadRunners 5-4 In Overtime - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Ianiero turns the trick in Condors comeback, 6-4 - Bakersfield Condors
- Wranglers Pull Away From Steelheads 4-1 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Reign Top Salmon Kings, 4-3 - Ontario Reign
- Royals Come Up Short In Trenton, 5-3 - Reading Royals
- Grizzlies Fall 6-4 In Bakersfield - Utah Grizzlies
- Salmon Kings Fall To Reign - Victoria Salmon Kings
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