Alaska Blows 4-0 Lead, Loses 7th In A Row
Published on December 29, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
VICTORIA, BC - Alexandre Imbeault scored a natural hat trick in the first period, propelling Alaska to a 4-0 lead, but Victoria rallied with four goals in the second and Wes Goldie tipped home the game-winner in the third, giving the Salmon Kings a 5-4 verdict.
5,115 streamed into the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre Monday night to see if Victoria could claim its 11th straight game at home, but sat in stunned silence as Colin Hemingway set up Imbeault's first two goals in less than four minutes to open the contest. When Imbeault slipped a backhander past Victoria goalie Glenn Fisher at 10:39, his hat trick was complete. Imbeault assisted on Brock McBride's second goal in as many nights with 2:15 left in the period, and Alaska sailed into the dressing room with a 4-0 lead, seemingly well on its way to breaking a club-record (ECHL) six-game losing streak.
But the Salmon Kings, winners of seven consecutive games coming into the contest, methodically worked their way back into the game, getting on the board when Andy Brant finished off a two-on-one just 2:06 into the second period. Jimmy Sharrow ripped a power play goal past Aces starter Sebastian Dahm from the high slot at 8:40, and when Mike Hamilton scored the first of his two four minutes later, Alaska's lead was down to 4-3 and head coach Brent Thompson signaled for a time-out.
The brief respite did nothing to change the course of the game's momentum, however, as Patrick Coulombe, starting from inside his own blue line, weaved his way through the entire Alaska team before setting Hamilton up for the equalizer with 3:28 remaining in the second period. Goldie's winner came 40 seconds into the final period from point-blank range, a short side, tip-in of a Tim Wedderburn shot from the left corner.
After killing off a five-on-three, Alaska had two power play chances down the stretch, including a six-on-four situation with Dahm pulled in favor of the extra attacker, but Fisher made several key stops, including one as time ran out on a Bryan Miller bullet from the left circle. McBride finished +3 to go along with a goal and an assist, while Hemingway contributed three helpers and finished +2. Imbeault's hat trick came a year and a day after his first as a pro, a 4-3 win at Las Vegas December 27, 2008.
The Aces (11-16-2) were out-shot 32-24, and have lost 12 of their last 15 games, with only seven wins in 25 tilts since staring the season 4-0. Alaska returns home to open a 10-game stand at Sullivan Arena against Ontario Wednesday and Thursday night at 7:15 p.m. Peanut Farm Pre-Game Show coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. each night on the flagship home for Aces pro hockey, KFQD 750 AM.
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