Erickson Scores Late to Give Alaska 3-2 Win
Published on January 8, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ONTARIO, Calif. - Tomas Kana found a streaking Luke Erickson in the slot for the game-winner with 59 seconds to play as Alaska upended Ontario 3-2 before 4,345 at Citizens Business Bank Arena Wednesday night.
The goal marked the second time in as many games that Kana has been involved in last-minute heroics, having scored the equalizer for the Aces with 13 seconds left in regulation in an eventual 2-1 overtime loss to Stockton Saturday. His assist leaves him with 11 points (4g-7a) in 15 ECHL games this season.
Alaska dominated much of the game, firing a season-high 45 shots on goal and out-shooting the hosts 17-8 over the first 20 minutes and 17-5 in the final period. The Aces grabbed a 2-0 lead when Cam Keith (power play) and Brett Hemingway scored 54 seconds apart midway through the first period. Dave Reinhardt put the Reign on the board at 11:58 of the opening frame, and Alaska had to settle for a 2-1 edge at the break.
The score remained 2-1 through the second period until early in the third, when Todd Jackson buried the equalizer on an Ontario power play at 2:09. Despite keeping the Reign bottled up in their own end for the majority of the final stanza, the game appeared headed for overtime until Kana broke down the left wing and snapped a centering pass to Erickson between the circles. Erickson one-timed the puck past John Murray for his seventh goal of the year and Alaska easily closed the game out, improving to 15-0 when leading after two periods and providing goaltender J.P. Lamoureux (23 saves) with his third straight win.
The Aces (19-13-2) climb into a second-place tie with Idaho, 10 points behind West Division leader Victoria. Alaska next faces slumping Bakersfield, losers of four in a row, Friday and Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. in Rabobank Arena. The Condors (11-18-4) took two of three in Anchorage last month. Both games this weekend will be broadcast live on KFQD AM 750, with coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to the opening face-off.
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