Alaska Endures Gut-Wrenching Fifth Straight Loss
December 19, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
BOISE, Idaho - Matt McKnight buried the game-winning goal with 40.8 seconds left in regulation, giving Idaho its third straight victory and Alaska its fifth consecutive defeat, 3-2, before 4,171 Saturday at Qwest Arena.
The Aces (11-14-2 overall, 6-10 on the road) have matched their longest losing streak since entering the ECHL in 2003 and have dropped 10 of their last 13 games, with just seven wins in 23 games since a 4-0 start. The Steelheads, meanwhile, improve to a league-best 22-5-2 and lead the West Division by 16 points over second-place Utah.
Alaska will look to climb out of the West cellar next Sunday, December 27, in the opener of a two-game set against Victoria. The game will be broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM, with Peanut Farm Pre-Game Show coverage getting underway at 3:45 p.m. AT. The Aces swept the Salmon Kings in a three-game series played in Anchorage to open the 2009-10 season.
Alaska played only its third scoreless first period this season, then took a 1-0 lead when Scott Burt fed Colin Hemingway for a one-timer at 8:15 of the second. Five minutes later, John Swanson punched home a rebound with Idaho on a power play, and the teams entered the final 20 minutes deadlocked.
For the second straight season, Aces defenseman Bryan Miller scored his first goal of the year at Idaho, giving Alaska a 2-1 lead with 9:44 remaining in the third period. The Steelheads quickly rallied for the equalizer, as Swanson's shot from the high slot deflected off Ryan Turek's skate directly to former Ace Adam Huxley, who whipped the puck past Alaska goalie Scott Reid with 7:38 left in regulation. The winner came after a botched clearing attempt by the Aces, with Swanson finding McKnight on a two-on-one beneath the circles. Idaho out-shot Alaska 33-24 and has a 22-point bulge over the defending division champions in the standings.
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