Francis buries Utah with OT winner, completes comeback

Published on February 21, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska. - Chris Francis' 17th goal of the season with 2:44 remaining completed a comeback to lift the Alaska Aces to a stunning 4-3 victory in sudden death overtime before 4,404 fans at Sullivan Arena on Friday.

Alaska's monumental strike in the series opener drew them to within a point of the fourth place Grizzlies (holder of the final playoff spot with 23 games left) in the Pacific Division, improving their record 4-1-1 in the season series. The Aces rallied from two separate one-goal deficits in the third period and are now 7-1-2 in the last ten home games.

Aaron Crandall picked up the win with 29 saves, completing a night where the Aces introduced the first half of their inaugural Hall of Fame class. Former Aces forward Keith Street, Dean Larson, and current public address voice Bob Lester were honored at center ice during the first intermission.

Barry Almeida's power play goal opened the scoring with 1:37 left in the first period on a redirection at the net, but the Aces finally penetrated Bobkov on Tim Coffman's game-tying goal at 7:17 of the second period, a wrister off the rush and from the right circle.

Ryan Hayes then scored a game-changing shorthanded goal with a minute left in the second period for a 2-1 edge, sneaking behind the Aces defense on a breakaway and completing a long stretch pass by Channing Boe.

The Aces' quest for their second comeback win when trailing after two periods took a step in the right direction on Ryan Tesink's second goal of the season at 2:31 of the third period, cleaning up a rebound at the net after Brad Cole produced a rebound on his point shot.

T.J. Syner scored off the rush, a wrister from the slot, with 11:24 left to restore Utah's lead at 3-2 but the Aces had another answer from Justin Breton. His seventh goal of the season at 12:15, when he crashed the Utah net, completed Tyler Currier's feed from the trapezoid for a 3-3 tie.

Francis then sent Sullivan Arena into bedlam with the game winner after Coffman battled along the boards to advance the puck from center ice. Francis collected the loose puck, swung back toward the Aces blueline and raced into the Utah zone where he unleashed a wrister from the right circle for the game-winner, off Bobkov's glove.

Bobkov took the loss on 30 stops.

NOTES: The Aces scratched Brendan Connolly, Corey Syvret, Brad Gorham, Dustin Molle and Troy Redmann ... Alaska improved to 3-3 in overtime this season ... after going through a 12-game span with two goals, Francis has a three-game goal scoring streak ... Tesink's goal broke a 22-game goal scoring drought (first goal since Oct.24 at Stockton).

Alaska and Utah meets tomorrow in a rematch at Sullivan Arena, starting at 7:15 p.m. (GCI/KFQD). The finale of Hall of Fame Weekend tomorrow will honor former forwards Kimbi Daniels, Mike Scott, and current season ticket holder Bobby Hill.

ACES HALL OF FAME PROFILES: ACESdTV

The Alaska Aces are releasing video preview "shorts" on all six inductees of the inaugural class of the Aces Hall of Fame throughout the week leading up to Hall of Fame Weekend. Videos on all six inductees can be accessed on demand by visiting ACESdTV, the official Aces video site, at youtube.com/acesdtv.

For Kelly Cup championship merchandise, 2014-15 season tickets, corporate sponsorship packages, and more information, please call 907-258-ACES. The Aces can also be visited on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey or on Twitter, @AlaskaAces.

Three Stars:

1. AK - C. Francis

2. AK - T. Coffman

3. UTA - T. Syner

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ECHL Stories from February 21, 2015


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