Aces surge into tie for first, clip Condors 3-2
March 14, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Josh Soares scored twice and Chris Beckford-Tseu recorded 23 saves in his return to the Alaska net in a 3-2 win over Bakersfield in front of 5,369 Friday at Rabobank Arena.
After a scoreless first period in which Alaska out-shot Bakersfield 12-7 but failed to convert three power play opportunities, the Aces finally broke through at 5:38 of the second when Ryan Reaves tipped in a Vladimir Novak backhander off the rush. For Reaves, the goal marked his first in an Alaska sweater and the third of his rookie season. Mark Derlago tied the game with a wrist shot from the right circle 1:14 later, beating Beckford-Tseu for his 30th goal of the year. Brett Hemingway found Soares with a long outlet pass on the right wing and the latter scored the first of his two on a snap shot that whistled past Yutaka Fukufuji just inside the left post with 7:06 remaining in the second period.
Leading 2-1 entering the third, the Aces dominated much of the final frame, out-shooting the Condors 14-4 at one point and grabbing a two-goal lead when Soares buried his 29th of the year from the right circle with 8:39 left in the game. The Condors managed one last push when they pulled Fukufuji for the extra attacker with two minutes remaining, and pulled within 3-2 on a Kevin Truelson drive from the point at 18:56. But Beckford-Tseu held on for his eighth straight victory as an Ace, and improved to 31-2-2 lifetime in an Alaska sweater.
The Aces (36-21-5) have won 15 of their last 17 games, and after trailing Victoria in the race for the West Division title by 16 points as recently as February 9, have climbed into a three-way tie for first with the Salmon Kings and the Idaho Steelheads. All three clubs have accumulated 77 points; Victoria has played 61 games, Alaska 62, and Idaho 65. Tomorrow's rematch against the Condors (19-34-9) begins at 6:00 p.m. ADT and will be broadcast live on AM 750 KFQD, with coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to the opening face-off.
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