Alaska nips Victoria, 3-2 in OT
February 25, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
VICTORIA, BC - Ryan Ramsay scored with 1:04 left in overtime to complete a stirring comeback from a 2-0 deficit with 12 minutes to play as Alaska remained unbeaten in eight trips to Victoria with a 3-2 overtime win before 4,383 at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
Although the Aces had never lost in seven previous games played in Canada (6-0-1), the Salmon Kings had snapped Alaska's club-record winning streak of 11 with a 5-4 overtime win December 16 and ended a team-record 11-game winning streak at home and 16-game unbeaten streak overall December 31. Victoria gave the Aces trouble again Friday, holding Alaska to just six shots in a scoreless first period and taking the lead with a power play goal by defensemen Nate Forster on a drive from the point just 2:47 into the second period.
The Aces out-shot the Salmon Kings 14-3 in the middle frame and 38-17 for the game, but two of Victoria's three shots found the back of the net in the second period, as Tyler Shybunka scored on a breakaway at 17:57 to give the home team a 2-0 lead heading into the final 20 minutes. Mike Scott finally put Alaska on the board in a four-on-four situation at 8:23 of the final period with his team-leading 26th goal of the year, but goaltender B.J. Boxman (35 saves) preserved the lead for the Salmon Kings into the game's final minute of regulation.
With Matt Underhill having been pulled in favor of the extra attacker, the Aces worked the puck from behind the net out in front, where Alex Leavitt, the extra man, hammered it home with just 47 seconds showing on the clock. After Alaska killed off a Victoria power play to begin overtime, Ramsay broke in on a two-on-one with defenseman Patrick Wellar, kept the puck on his stick, and whistled a wrist shot past Boxma from deep in the right circle for the winner.
The Aces (41-8-3) maintain their seven-point West Division lead over Las Vegas, a 3-1 winner over Idaho, heading into tomorrow night's 6:05 p.m. AST rematch against the Salmon Kings (17-30-6). All Alaska Aces games are broadcast live on KFQD AM 750 and at www.alaskaaces.com, where all home games and selected road contests also are available on a pay-per-view basis, courtesy of B2 Networks.
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