Alaska blanks Idaho 4-0, takes fifth straight

Published on December 21, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Derek Gustafson stayed hot between the pipes, stopping all 32 shots he faced, while Kimbi Daniels assisted on the first three Alaska goals in an eventual 4-0 victory over Idaho in front of 4,251 Wednesday at Sullivan Arena.

The first period offered little in the way of scoring chances until barely six minutes remained, when Daniels fed Corbin Schmidt off the rush at 13:49, as the latter slid a wrist shot past Steelheads goalie Steve Silverthorn blocker side. The Aces pushed their lead to 2-0 when, operating from the left corner of the offensive zone, Daniels found Joey Hope all alone between the circles. Hope fired top left corner for his second goal in three games and fifth in four professional seasons.

Alaska finally broke the game open with two goals in a 23-second span late in the middle frame. Julian Talbot stuffed home a Daniels rebound with 2:25 remaining for his eighth of the year, and Matt Robinson followed up a Ryan MacMurchy shot for his second goal in as many games. Robinson, in fact, has four points (2g-2a) in his last two outings.

Gustafson kept the 4-0 margin intact, piling up 16 saves in the final period as Idaho ended up with a 32-17 bulge in shots on goal yet never found the range. The 17 shots were a season-low for the Aces, who nevertheless have won a season-high five straight games, eight of their last nine, and 10 of their previous 12. At 16-8 overall, Alaska owns a three-point lead in the West Division over Phoenix and a six-point spread over the struggling Steelheads (12-10-2), who have dropped seven of their last eight contests.

The teams practice tomorrow before returning to game competition Friday and Saturday night at 7:15 p.m., with both tilts broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM. The Aces will wear their special holiday jerseys Saturday, with a post-game auction scheduled for immediately after the series finale. Tickets are now available at the Aces office, www.alaskaaces.com, and all Fred Meyer locations in Anchorage.

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