Freakish bounce seals Idaho sweep
October 23, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
BOISE, Idaho â Idaho jumped out to a 3-0 lead and then received a fortunate hop for a much-needed insurance goal in an eventual 4-2 win over Alaska Saturday in front of 4,327 at the Bank of America Centre.
In another chippy, hard-fought game (76 combined PIM after 69 the previous night), Idaho grabbed a 1-0 lead early in the first period as Bobby Russell beat Aces goalie Lance Mayes on a rebound at 3:54. Early in the second period, the Steelheads struck again, as another rebound left by Mayes ended up on the tape of Darren McLachlan, who easily sent the puck past the scrambling Alaska goaltender for a 2-0 lead at the 2:16 mark. When Darrell Hay sent a laser top shelf against Mayes on an Idaho power play at 11:21, the Steelheads appeared on the verge of a second consecutive runaway. But just 37 seconds after Hay's goal, Aces rookie Vladimir Novak rung a shot off the goal post, and Chris Heisten smacked home the carom to put Alaska on the board.
The Aces finally broke through on the power play, as Ryan Bast's shot from the point deflected off the shoulder of Charles Linglet and trickled past Idaho netminder Frank Doyle with 5:28 left in the second period, whittling the Alaska deficit to 3-2. The score remained that way as each team squandered numerous power play chances (the Aces finished 1-9 on the PP, the Steelheads 1-7). Finally, with 3:13 left to play, Idaho again got a friendly bounce from the Bank of America Centre boards, as Justin Cox's dump-in glanced off one of the glass supports and took a diagonal bounce past Mayes, who had come out to play the puck and keep the action moving.
Alaska welcomes San Diego to Anchorage for its home opener at Sullivan Arena Friday night at 7:15 p.m. on GCI Magnetic Schedule Night. The Aces are just 1-7-1 in home openers, with their last victory coming in 1996 against their old rivals from Fairbanks, the Gold Kings. The teams also will play Saturday night at 7:15 p.m. and Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m. in the first of seven "Sunday Skate with the Aces" promotions, courtesy of KeyBank. The first 2,000 fans arriving Sunday will receive the official KeyBank Alaska Aces Autograph Book. All three games will be broadcast live on AM 750 KFQD and also can be seen on a pay-per-view basis at www.alaskaaces.com, courtesy of B2 Networks.
ECHL Stories from October 23, 2004
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- Steelheads off to perfect start, down Aces, 4-2 - Idaho Steelheads
- Freakish bounce seals Idaho sweep - Alaska Aces
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- Condors and SMG in Major Dispute - Bakersfield Condors
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- Game Preview vs. Fresno - San Diego Gulls
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- Falcons Falter in Opener - Fresno Falcons
- Checkers top Greenville 3-1 in season opener - Charlotte Checkers
- Year of the Condor Opens with 7-2 Blowout - Bakersfield Condors
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