Aces Within Four Of West Lead, Nip Victoria 3-2
Published on March 8, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Brett Hemingway snapped a 2-2 tie with 12:31 left in the third period and Mike Brown recorded 16 of his 36 saves over the final 20 minutes in a 3-2 Alaska win over Victoria before 4,562 Friday at Sullivan Arena.
The Aces were 16 points out of the West Division race as recently as February 10, but their 12th win in the last 13 games, coupled with a 3-2 loss by Idaho in Stockton, leaves the three-time defending West champions just four points out of the division lead, still shared by the Steelheads and Salmon Kings, who have gone just 6-7 in their last 13 games and dropped to 35-18-5 overall. Alaska, now 33-20-5 overall, has won seven straight games at home and became the first team all year to beat Victoria in a game that was tied after two periods; amazingly, the Salmon Kings had been 12-0-1 prior to Friday.
Wes Goldie scored the first of his two goals midway through the first period on a Victoria power play, but the Aces leveled the contest in the final minute of the frame when Olivier Filion registered his 20th of the year, and second in as many games. Goldie's 30th of the year (and sixth in seven games against Alaska) pushed the visitors back in front at 1:41 of the second period, but less than two minutes later, Derick Martin, who came into the contest with five goals in 151 ECHL games, scored his first in an Aces sweater off the rush to create a 2-2 deadlock after 40 minutes.
Hemingway's winner came on a tip of Peter Metcalf's drive from the right circle and after Victoria had fired 11 of the first 12 shots on goal in the third period. Alaska improves to 4-3 against the Salmon Kings this year and 28-6-4 since Victoria entered the ECHL in 2004.
Tomorrow's rematch between the Aces and 'Kings begins at 7:15 p.m., with the finale scheduled for Sunday at 5:05 p.m., after which comes the final post-game Fred Meyer "Skate with the Aces," of the season. All regular season contests are broadcast live on AM 750 KFQD, with coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to face-off.
ECHL Stories from March 8, 2008
- Lynx look for revenge at home Sunday after 8-3 loss on Saturday - Augusta Lynx
- Kassian Scores Twice, Catters Hit Century Mark with 4-3 Win - Texas Wildcatters
- Chiefs edged by Jackals - Johnstown Chiefs
- Weather knocks out MAGIC-FM for tonight's Jackals game - Elmira Jackals
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Goals From Tejchma and Contois Aren't Enough As Florida Wins Second of Three Game Set - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Bombers Score Early; Fall Late to Checkers in Season Series Finale - Dayton Bombers
- Gladiators pound Lynx 8-3 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Late Goal Lifts Texas over Pilots 4-3 - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Checkers mount comeback over Bombers, win 3-1 - Charlotte Checkers
- Cyclones Run Streak To 21 In 4-3 Win Saturday Night! - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Blades win 7th straight at home, quiet ing Sea Wolves - Florida Everblades
- Inferno burned by Stingrays 6-3 - Columbia Inferno
- Jackals trim Chiefs 3-2 in OT for second straight win - Elmira Jackals
- Stingrays Drop Six on Inferno, Win 6-3 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Turple Assigned to Gwinnett from AHL Grand Rapids - Atlanta Gladiators
- Condors Game Preview - Bakersfield Condors
- Nailers Wake Up and Win - Wheeling Nailers
- Phil Cole Loaned To Manitoba - Stockton Thunder
- Devils Drop to Wheeling, 4-2 - Trenton Devils
- Taylor re-assigned to Blades from AHL - Florida Everblades
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Zanoski's two-goal effort leads third period comeback victory - Stockton Thunder
- Aces Within Four Of West Lead, Nip Victoria 3-2 - Alaska Aces
- Robinson and Condors beat Las Vegas in shootout, 2-1 - Bakersfield Condors
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
