Aces sweep Wheeling 4-2
February 14, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska â For the first time in four tries, the Alaska Aces completed a three-game sweep at home with a 4-2 win over North Division co-leader Wheeling before 3,426 Sunday evening at Sullivan Arena.
Three times previously this season, the Aces had won the first two games of a three-game set at home, only to drop the finaleâSan Diego in October, Victoria in November, and Bakersfield last weekend. The Nailers looked like they might foil Alaska's plans again when they grabbed their first lead of the series with 1:23 left in the first period on a one-timer by Evgeny Lazarev.
The Aces wasted four power play chances in the opening frame but started to take control in the second, beginning with Chris Minard's breakaway that turned into his league-leading 32nd goal of the season at 6:19. Alaska took the lead for good with 7:05 left in the period, as Mike Scott was stopped on an odd-man rush by Wheeling goaltender Joe Exter, who promptly was beaten by Mike Jones's laser from between the circles on the rebound. A power play goal by Olivier Filion with 1:48 remaining in the frame, his first goal since December 12, gave the Aces a commanding 3-1 lead entering the final 20 minutes.
Pascal Morency kept the Nailers in the game by scoring off the rush with 9:03 left, but a tired Wheeling squad, double-shifting its top line all weekend, managed just five other shots on goal in the third period. Scott wrapped up Alaska's 10th win in 12 games with an empty-netter in the game's final minute. Peter Aubry, who had 29 saves for the Aces in a 5-1 win the night before, improved his record to 9-2-2 over his last 13 starts with another 24 stops. Exter took the loss despite 34 saves in net for the Nailers.
Alaska now stands at 29-15-4 heading into its Eastern swing, with only three losses in its last 21 games. The Aces begin the trip with two games at Peoria (22-17-5), the first of which will be broadcast live on KHAR AM 590 Friday, February 18 at 4:30 p.m. Saturday's rematch with the Rivermen moves back to KFQD AM 750 at 4:00 p.m. Alaska travels to Dayton for a Sunday matinee at 10:00 a.m. on KFQD. Coverage of all three games begins 20 minutes prior to the opening face-off.
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