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Aces survive Eagles rally, now 3-1-1 on homestand

January 31, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Ryan Walters scored a power play goal and added two assists while 28 saves by Johan Gustafsson were enough to help the Alaska Aces hold off the Colorado Eagles, 5-4 in a shootout before 4,045 at Sullivan Arena on Friday.

Gustafsson stopped Chris Duszynski in the sixth round, following up Colten Hayes' shootout goal for a win in his Sullivan Arena debut. Ten different Aces hit the scoresheet while Alaska improved to 12-1-3 in the last 16 home games.

Olivier Archambault's 20th goal of the season put Alaska ahead, 1-0 on a deflection at the net following Dustin Molle's blast from the top of the left circle. Curt Gogol's fifth goal in five ECHL games extended the lead to 2-0 on a power play at 1:15 of the second period, a second chance wrister from the left circle that snuck past Daniel Spence's glove.

Walters corralled Brad Gorham's feed and hammered a slapshot from the top of the right circle, chasing Spence for the Aces' second power play goal with 9:15 left and the lead extended to 3-0. Bryan Cameron, stationed at the net, pumped an easy rebound past replacement Clarke Saunders after Hayes was stopped on a slapshot at the right point.

Cameron's power play goal, with 4:45 remaining, put the Aces ahead 4-0 and broke a personal 19-game goal-scoring slump.

The Aces, well in control with Gustafsson making 15 saves through two periods, let Colorado get on the board with Brett Kulak's 5-on-3 power play goal at 8:19 on a blast from the center point. Taylor Vause sliced the deficit to 4-2 on a rebound goal at the left post with 9:30 elapsed, and Collin Bowman brought Colorado back into the game with their third power play goal in less than six minutes, at 4-3, on a one-timer at the left point with 5:45 left.

Spence, forced to return to the game after Saunders left due to injury, was pulled for an extra attacker and Kulak capitalized on an open net with 1:08 left in regulation for a 4-4 tie.

Gustafsson, who stabilized the Aces chances with five saves in overtime, battled with Spence at a 2-2 draw in the shootout before Hayes put the Aces ahead in the sixth round with a forehand fake and wrister through Spence's five hole. Gustafsson preserved the victory with a blocker side stop on Duzsynski, who deked to the backhand.

Spence, in his Eagles debut, took the loss on 19 saves.

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