Alaska whips Long Beach, 6-3

January 20, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


LONG BEACH, Calif. - Julian Talbot had a goal and an assist as Alaska raced out to a 4-0 lead and cruised to a 6-3 win over the Long Beach Ice Dogs in front of 1,940 at Long Beach Arena.

Both teams got off to a slow start Friday, particularly the Aces, who managed just one shot on goal with a five-on-three power play early in the first period. But on a subsequent opportunity with the man advantage, Peter Metcalf scored his sixth goal of the year from the left circle at 15:38 to snap a scoreless tie. Barely a minute later, Kevin Croxton tipped home a drive by Corbin Schmidt for his 14th of the year (second on the team), and Alaska strolled into its dressing room with a 2-0 lead.

Metcalf scored again to push the margin to three, from a tough angle along the left half-boards, at 9:32 of the second period. After Kimbi Daniels misfired on Alaska's fifth penalty shot in its last six games, Julian and Joe Talbot worked a give-and-go, with Julian scoring his 13th goal of the year with 3:13 left in the frame. A misplay by Aces goaltender Derek Gustafson allowed the Ice Dogs to finally get on the board, on Bo Cheesman's eight goal of the year at 17:46.

Long Beach (11-21-2) crept within 4-2 when Eric Neilson rifled a shot from between the circles past Gustafson only 1:34 into the final period, but Vladimir Novak answered with his 13th of the year less than two minutes later to put Alaska back in front by three goals. The Ice Dogs managed one last rally, as Terry Harrison scored off the rush with 8:03 to play, but Long Beach failed to convert three more power plays, including a five-on-three. Florian Iberer stepped out of the penalty box with 1:09 remaining and buried an empty-netter to account for the final score. The Aces out-shot the Ice Dogs 27-25 in winning for the 15th time in 17 games under Davis Payne at Long Beach Arena.

Alaska, now 24-10-2 and first overall among 25 ECHL teams, faces a six-hour bus trip immediately after tonight's game to arrive in Stockton tomorrow night for the first of five straight battles with the Thunder at 6:30 p.m. AST. The Aces play Stockton again Sunday at 3:00 p.m. AST before returning home for the back end of the five-game series in Anchorage, beginning Wednesday, January 24. Tickets for next week's games at Sullivan Arena are now available by calling 258-ACES or at www.alaskaaces.com.



ECHL Stories from January 20, 2007


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