Aces win 4-2, now .500 on road

April 1, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


LONG BEACH, Calif. – Dan Murphy's goaltending bailed Alaska out during a sluggish first period, and the Aces took charge over the final 40 minutes to emerge with a 4-2 win over the Ice Dogs Wednesday in front of 1,774 at Long Beach Arena.

Long Beach fired 20 shots on goal in an entertaining first period, but Alaska broke through first, as Wes Dorey nudged a backhander off the glove of Ice Dogs goaltender T.J. Aceti and into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead at 10:57. Long Beach's leading scorer, Alex Kim, deadlocked the contest with 7:27 left in the period when he notched the 13th shorthanded goal allowed by the Aces this season.

Forty seconds later, Alaska regained the lead on that same power play, as Mark Smith's shot from the point sailed past a screened Aceti. The Ice Dogs tied the game again at 15:49 with a power play goal of their own on a perfect redirection by Jimmy Callahan against Murphy, who made 18 saves under heavy duress in the opening 20 minutes.

The second period offered a complete reversal of the first, with Alaska oushooting Long Beach 16-6 and gaining the edge for the third time at 12:42, when Charles Linglet registered his 19th goal of the year on a wraparound that slithered between Aceti's pads. The third period witnessed more of the same, the Aces taking 13 of the frame's 16 shots and sealing the victory on Smith's second of the night and 25th of the season with 13:04 left in regulation. Alaska outshot Long Beach 29-9 over the final two periods and finished the season 8-2 against the Ice Dogs, including a perfect 5-0 at Long Beach Arena.

The Aces, who climbed back to the .500 mark on the road and to 37-27-6 overall, travel to second-place Las Vegas Friday and Pacific Division champion San Diego Saturday to round out their 2003-04 regular season slate. Both games will begin at 6:00 p.m. AST. Alaska's games are broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM, as well as www.alaskaaces.com, with Jack Michaels calling the play-by-play. Coverage begins 20 minutes prior to the opening face-off, presented by GCI.

Alaska Aces playoff tickets are on sale now, with the first home game scheduled for Friday, April 9, at 7:00 p.m. against the San Diego Gulls, which will be Game Three of a best-of-five first round series in the Pacific Division. Game Four, if necessary, will be played at Sullivan Arena Saturday, April 10, at 7:00 p.m. For all playoff-related inquiries, as well as information pertaining to the purchase of 2004-05 season tickets, please call 258-ACES.



ECHL Stories from April 1, 2004


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