Aces Trump RoadRunners 4-3 In Overtime

Published on January 5, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Olivier Filion tied the scored on a shorthanded goal with 26.2 seconds remaining in regulation, and Matt Shasby netted the game-winner with 1.4 seconds left in overtime to lift the Alaska Aces to a dramatic 4-3 win over the Phoenix RoadRunners before 4,268 at Sullivan Arena in ECHL action Friday.

Phoenix (11-15-6) opened the scoring 7:35 into the first period when Scott Kelman re-directed Corey LeClair's shot from the left point behind Alaska goalie Derek Gustafson giving the RoadRunners a 1-0 lead.

Alaska (18-10-3) countered with a pair of goals in the middle period to take a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. Peter Metcalf got the Aces on the scoreboard at 9:07 of the period on the power play collecting Shasby's rebound and tipping the puck through the pads of RoadRunners goalie Dave McKee to tie the score at 1-1. Alaska later took their first lead of the game at 13:40 of the second when Eric Neilson swept Jim Dahl's rebound behind McKee and into the net.

The RoadRunners responded with an 18-shot third period and scored two goals in a span of 2:45 seconds to re-claim a 3-2 lead. Daniel Sisca whipped a shot from the right-wing circle past Gustafson at 6:12 of the period on the power play to tie the game at 2-2. Gino Guyer later scored on a nifty two-on-one play with Justin Maiser lifting the puck over the Gustafson and into the net at 8:57 to give the RoadRunners a 3-2 advantage. But Alaska found the equalizer in the final 30 seconds as Filion, off a broken play, found the puck in the high slot and slapped it over the right shoulder over McKee at 19:33 tying the score at 3-3.

After the RoadRunners squandered a power play chance in the overtime, the Aces led a three-on-rush up the ice in the final 10 seconds, and Kimbi Daniels found Shasby at the side of the net who tipped it past McKee at 4:58 of the extra session for the victory.

Phoenix out-shot Alaska 40-34. McKee stopped 30 shots but fell to 3-4-3 on the season. The RoadRunners went 1-7 on the power play while Alaska was 1-5 with the man-advantage.

Notes: Phoenix captured their first point in seven tries at Sullivan Arena... Guyer and Kelman finished with three-point evenings...The RoadRunners have taken points in eight out of their 14 road games this season... Justin Maiser, Jeff Smith, Guyer and Corey LeClair made their first returns to Alaska as members of the opposition. Maiser was a part of the Aces 2005-06 Kelly Cup Championship squad, Smith spent the 2006-07 campaign in Alaska, and Guyer was recently acquired for defenseman Dave Pszenyczny on Dec. 13, 2007. LeClair played five games for the Anchorage Aces of the now-defunct West Coast Hockey League in 2002-03.

Phoenix and Alaska conclude their two-game series at 9:15 p.m. Saturday from Sullivan Arena in Anchorage. Catch all the action live at www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" at 9:00 p.m.

The RoadRunners return to US Airways Center at 7:11 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30 when the open a five-game home-stand with the Las Vegas Wranglers.

Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online at ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office. Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2007-08 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.

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