Daniels scores OT winner as Aces sweep

November 18, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Kimbi Daniels scored on a breakaway at 1:10 of overtime to give Alaska a 4-3 victory over Fresno and a sweep of their three-game series before 5,370 at Sullivan Arena.

A strong walk-up crowd, stirred by the presence of Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler, watched as the Aces and Falcons battled on even terms in the first period before a tip-in by Bo Cheesman provided Alaska with a 1-0 edge 18.4 seconds before the break. Playing with just 14 skaters, and without their top defensive pairing of Matt Shasby and Peter Metcalf as well as their leading goal-scorer from a year ago, Olivier Filion, the Aces were out-played for much of the second period but never trailed.

Fresno forward Jarrett Konkle tied the game 1-1 on the power play with a tap-in at 3:55 of the middle frame, but Alaska defenseman Corbin Schmidt countered with his first goal of the year two minutes later coming on a blast from just inside the blue line. The 2-1 Aces lead lasted exactly 20 seconds, as Konkle scored again off the rush for the Falcons. Josh Soares pushed Alaska back in front with a laser into the upper left corner of the cage at 7:49 for his team-leading eighth goal of the season. Fresno continued to dominate the action, however, eventually out-shooting the home team by a count of 22-5 in the period, and finally was rewarded when Luke Curtin hit Tyler Kindle in stride coming out of the penalty box and the Falcon defenseman beat Aces starter Chris Beckford-Tseu on the ensuing breakaway with 1:26 left in the period.

Deadlocked again at 3-3, the teams played a relatively conservative third period, leading to overtime. A hard rim off the glass by Ryan Glenn was collected near the Fresno blue line by Daniels, and with a step on his defender, he glided in and whipped a wrist shot past Kris Mayotte for the winner, his seventh goal of the year and his third point of the night. Beckford-Tseu posted 34 saves (Alaska was out-shot 37-20) in earning his seventh straight win and running his regular season record with the Aces to an amazing 30-2-2. He and Glenn both have earned a call-up to Alaska's American Hockey League affiliate in Peoria, and will leave Sunday morning.

The Aces (9-3-1), meanwhile, practice Monday before heading to Stockton, Calif., for a two-game set with the Thunder next Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. ADT and Friday at 6:30 p.m. ADT. The upcoming road trip, Alaska's longest of the season at 13 days, includes a rematch with Fresno (4-4-3) next Saturday at 6:05 p.m. ADT and a three-game series against Florida, beginning November 28 at 3:30 p.m. ADT. All regular season games are broadcast live on Alaska's flagship station, AM 750 KFQD, with coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to the opening face-off.



ECHL Stories from November 18, 2007


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