Alaska loses 3-2 to Phoenix, plays for West title next week
Published on March 30, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Phoenix built a 2-0 lead after two periods, then withstood a furious Alaska comeback to prevail 3-2 in front of a standing-room-only crowd of 6,451 Saturday night at Sullivan Arena.
Despite the loss, the Aces (40-24-5) can still win their fourth straight West Division title with a three-game sweep of Victoria on Canadian soil, a series that begins next Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. ADT. If the Salmon Kings, who lost in a shootout Saturday, should lose again tomorrow, then Alaska would need only two wins next week to secure the title, provided that Idaho (shootout losers as well on Saturday) does not win both of its final games next weekend against Fresno. All three teams, currently separated by a point in the standings, can still win the West and claim the second seed in the upcoming National Conference playoffs.
The Roadrunners, locked in a three-team battle of their own for the final two postseason slots, out-shot the Aces 12-6 in a scoreless first period, then buried a pair of power play goals in the middle frame to take their first lead of the series. Dusty Jamieson scored just 29 seconds into the second period, and former Ace Gino Guyer followed nine minutes later.
Trailing 2-0, Alaska fired 18 third period shots at Phoenix goalie Taylor Dakers, and broke through just 1:17 into the stanza on a tip-in by Matt Robinson, his second goal in as many games and his 19th of the season. The Aces (0-for-9 on the power play in the final two games of this series) missed an opportunity with the man advantage to tie the score, and shortly thereafter, Chris Stevens beat Alaska goalie Chris Beckford-Tseu off the rush for the eventual game-winner with 12:29 left in regulation. The Aces refused to go quietly, killing a five-on-three Phoenix power play and pulling within 3-2 when Josh Soares scored for the ninth time in 10 games and extended his point streak to 14 with his 36th goal of the year at 15:46.
Dakers held sway, however, finishing with 34 saves and ending a four-game losing streak for the 'Runners while dealing Alaska just its second loss in 12 home games. Beckford-Tseu had 29 saves in losing to an opponent with a record under .500 for the first time in 41 Aces starts. Alaska has won five of nine previous meetings with Victoria heading into next week, a series that wraps up Friday and Saturday night 6:00 p.m. ADT. All three games, of course, will be broadcast live on the flagship home of Aces hockey, AM 750 KFQD, with coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to face-off.
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