Aces win over Thunder

Published on February 13, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


ANCHORAGE - Kory Falite capped off a two-goal effort with a game-winning goal, with 2:45 left in sudden death overtime, to lift the Alaska Aces to a 4-3 overtime win over the Stockton Thunder (24-15-8, 56 points) before 4,332 fans at Sullivan Arena on Saturday.

The Thunder were able to force overtime on a third period goal from former Aces forward Jarrett Konkle, spelling additional goals from Chris Lawrence and Jordan Fulton. Alaska goaltender Gerald Coleman made 25 stops, enough to pick up the win.

Tyler Ruegsegger stuffed a second chance rebound past Bryan Pitton to break a scoreless tie just 3:58 into the opening period, converting Scott Burt's pass from the left corner after Cameron Brodie lost his balance racing for the puck.

Fulton tied the game with his eighth goal of the season at 11:25 when he raced to the goal mouth and tipped Craig Valette's pass from the right wing over Coleman's shoulder.

Just 1:45 later, Lawrence boosted the Thunder ahead, 2-1 with his 11th goal of the season when he buried a snap shot past Coleman, from the slot and off the rush.

Kory Falite responded just 36 seconds later when his wrist shot from the outside of the right circle snuck past Pitton's blocker, converting Garry Nunn's breakout pass.

Alaska came back to claim the lead, 3-2 on a power-play goal from Mark Isherwood with 3:09 to play in the period when he took Brian Swanson's feed in the slot, and buried a wrist shot over the stick of Pitton.

Both teams battled through a scoreless second period and the Thunder nearly earned a game-tying goal on a chance by Lawrence at the right post, just missing a backdoor feed with the puck rolling off his stick on a power-play.

Pitton denied Alaska's leading scorer, Wes Goldie, on a blast from the inside of the right circle to keep the one-goal deficit upheld through two periods.

Konkle finally came through to knot the score, 3-3 with 10:22 left in the third period. Fraser Clair initiated the play when he stole the puck at the right circle and slipped a pass to Konkle, who buried a wrist shot under the crossbar.

After an Aces cycle in the offensive zone for nearly 30 seconds, Chad Anderson's wraparound bid was stopped by Pitton. With the rebound sitting at the right circle, Falite slipped the loose puck through Pitton's five hole with a wrist shot, ending the game on his second marker.

Pitton took the overtime loss with 15 stops and his record moved to 16-7-2.

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