Alaska Completes Four-Game Sweep in Home Finale, 7-1

March 15, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Cam Keith and Tomas Kana scored twice as Alaska completed a four-game sweep of Phoenix with a 7-1 rout on Sunday in front of 4,284 at Sullivan Arena.

The Aces (40-21-3) closed out their regular season home schedule on a season-high six-game winning streak. Alaska won 17 of its last 19 games at Sullivan Arena to finish with a league-best 28-7-1 record on home ice. Coupled with another Idaho loss, the Aces now control the West Division race with a seven-point lead over the Steelheads, who still have three games in hand, and a nine-point bulge over Victoria, who like Alaska, has eight games left to play in the regular season.

The game began on an ominous note for the Roadrunners, who turned the puck over in their own zone on a power play and watched as Vladimir Novak rifled a shorthanded goal over the left shoulder of goalie Chris Beckford-Tseu at 8:13 of the first period. The goal marked the 15th shortie allowed by Phoenix this season, and continued a string of power play futility in this series for the 'Runners, who have not converted any of their 23 chances against the Aces in five meetings this season and finished Sunday 0-for-10. A power play goal by Alex Imbeault, his third in as many games and 20th of the year, pushed Alaska's lead to 2-0 with 3:33 left in the frame.

Kana began the second period by beating Beckford-Tseu with a backhander on a breakaway at 3:27, but David Rutherford scored off the rush to pull Phoenix within 3-1 at the 9:09 mark and the Roadrunners soon had a four-minute power play to try to get back in the game. Phoenix failed to capitalize, however, and soon after the power play ended, Alaska scored on its own opportunity with the man advantage, as Cam Keith tucked a backhander just underneath the crossbar from a tough angle with four minutes left in the period, leaving the score 4-1 in favor of the Aces with 20 minutes to play.

Keith and Kana each scored on re-directions in the third period, and Kana added an assist on Scott Burt's breakaway goal with 12.7 seconds remaining, pushing the final margin to 7-1. J.P. Lamoureux recorded his league-leading 28th victory by making 25 saves.

The Aces finish the regular season with eight consecutive road games, beginning next Thursday and Friday against the 'Runners (26-31-4) at 6:05 p.m. AT. Both games will be broadcast live from downtown Phoenix on KFQD AM 750, with Peanut Farm Pre-Game Show coverage beginning at 5:45 p.m.



ECHL Stories from March 15, 2009


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