Aces survive Salmon Kings, 9-6

Published on December 2, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


Victoria, BC - Barrett Heisten scored twice in a span of 2:13 midway through the third period to turn a 6-5 deficit into a 7-6 Alaska lead, and the Aces tacked on two more to prevail 9-6 and polish off a three-game sweep of the Salmon Kings in front of 3,598 at Victoria's Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.

Victoria grabbed its first lead of the series on a power play goal by Mike Stutzel at 2:56, but shaky goaltending by Julien Ellis, who kept last night's game close with 51 saves, undermined the Salmon Kings in their efforts to avoid being swept. Patrick Wellar's floater from the high slot ticked off the glove of Ellis and trickled just over the goal line at 15:19, and with 51 seconds showing on the first period clock, Olivier Filion scored his 10th goal of the year off the rush with a backhander.

Kevin Croxton pushed Alaska's lead to 3-1 with his ninth of the season three and a half minutes into the second period, and while Victoria killed off a five-on-three power play for the Aces later in the frame, Alaska kept coming at even strength. Julian Talbot banked a shot off Salmon Kings forward Ryan Wade, who could only watch as the carom rolled through Ellis for a 4-1 margin at 10:29. Matt Kelly hit Kiel McLeod with a long outlet pass behind Wellar and Florian Iberer 37 seconds later, and McLeod snapped a wrister past Aces goalie Isaac Reichmuth to whittle the deficit to 4-2.

Vladimir Novak punched home a Kimbi Daniels rebound off the rush at 13:11 to build the lead back to 5-2, but Wes Goldie answered with another power play goal for the Kings with 5:28 remaining in the second. Victoria continued its comeback in the third, as Warren McCutcheon notched another power play goal at 5:56 to pull the Salmon Kings within 5-4. Goldie's second of the night tied the game at 8:20, and McLeod scored his second goal of the evening 10 seconds later to give Victoria a 6-5 edge.

Undeterred, Alaska wasted little time pressing Ellis, and the floodgates opened, with Heisten scoring his first goal in eight games less than a minute after McLeod's goal to draw the Aces even at 6-6, another shot that bounced off a Salmon King, this time defenseman Seamus Young. Heisten did not need any help on his second goal, a wrist shot that he rifled over Ellis's left shoulder with 8:39 left in regulation for the eventual game-winner. Daniels set up rookie Matt Robinson off the rush for a re-direction that gave Alaska some breathing room at 8-6. Peter Metcalf closed the scoring with an empty-netter at 19:48, securing a 5-1 road trip for the Aces, who have scored 41 goals while winning seven of their last eight games away from home.

Alaska (11-7 overall, 8-3 on the road) returns home to open a three-game series against Fresno Wednesday night at 7:15 p.m. The Aces eliminated the Falcons in last year's National Conference Finals with a dramatic double overtime victory in Game 7. The final two games of the series will take place over Military Appreciation Weekend, December 8-9, with both contests starting at 7:15 p.m. Tickets for next week's games at Sullivan Arena are now available at www.alaskaaces.com or by calling 258-ACES.

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