Chouinard keeps Aces at bay
December 30, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska â Sean O'Connor's second goal of the night 40 seconds into the third period proved to be the game-winner as San Diego edged Alaska 2-1 before 5,043 Wednesday night at Sullivan Arena.
For the eighth time in their last nine outings, the Aces surrendered the game's first goal, as O'Connor flipped in a backhander with 4:12 left in the first period to give San Diego the lead. The second period belonged to Alaska, as after Colin Shields ringed a shot off the crossbar that would have pushed the Gulls margin to 2-0, the Aces peppered goalie Mathieu Chouinard mercilessly. After Chouinard turned aside a Mike Lee penalty shot at 12:47 of the second period, B.J. Young finally got the equalizer with 3:39 left in the frame, assisted by Chris Heisten and Vladimir Novak. Young has scored five goals in seven games this season, four against the Gulls.
Heisten, however, took a slashing penalty late in the second period that San Diego eventually converted after four previous power plays had ended in failure. Early in the third, with just 11 seconds remaining on the man advantage, Max Birbraer found an open O'Connor in front, who chipped the puck over a beaten Peter Aubry. Chouinard took care of the remaining 19:20, finishing with 33 saves and out-dueling Aubry even as Alaska out-shot the Gulls 34-23, including 23-11 over the final two periods. O'Connor has scored six goals in four games against the Aces.
Alaska (13-12-2, fifth in the West Division) had been 4-0 in games tied heading into the final 20 minutes prior to Wednesday. Five of their last six games have been decided by one goal, and the Aces have led for a total of 20:23 in their last 10, a stretch where they have managed a 4-5-1 record. San Diego moved into sole possession of third place in the West at 15-8-2 and has won six of its last eight games, all decided by a single goal.
The Aces and Gulls will practice Thursday at 10:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., respectively, before meeting again Friday at 7:15 p.m., when Alaska rings in the New Year with commemorative "tuxedo" jerseys, which will be auctioned off immediately after the game. Friday's contest will be broadcast on flagship station KFQD 750 AM and also made available on a pay-per-view basis at www.alaskaaces.com, courtesy of B2 Networks. Coverage begins 20 minutes prior to the opening face-off.
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