Glads end Aces five-game win streak, 6-2

February 3, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


Duluth, Georgia - The Gwinnett Gladiators scored four unanswered goals in the third period to snap a 2-2 tie and cruise to a 6-2 win over Alaska in front of 10,853 Saturday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

The only goal in the first period came when Alaska suffered a blown coverage in its own zone, as a wide-open Chad Painchaud took a pass from Scott Lehman and rifled a shot past Aces goalie Derek Gustafson at 5:35. Gustafson's last start in Duluth, Georgia, had been a double overtime loss to the Gladiators in Game Four of the 2004 South Division Finals, when he was working the nets for the now-defunct Louisiana Ice Gators.

Just as a power play expired, Alaska tied the game at 1-1 when Peter Metcalf found Corbin Schmidt in the slot at 4:58 of the second period. After Gwinnett regained the lead at 8:49 on a one-timer by Jamie Milam in a five-on-three situation, the Aces again deadlocked the contest on a power play goal of their own three and a half minutes later, as Kevin Croxton whipped a wrist shot past Gladiators goalie Dave Caruso, who had lost his stick.

Painchaud pounced on a loose rebound 36 seconds into the final period to break the 2-2 tie, and a turnover in the defensive zone led to Gwinnett's fourth goal, as Colton Fretter followed his own rebound at 9:41. Alaska killed off five Gladiator power plays in the third period, but eventually gave way in the game's final five minutes, as Fretter scored again with 4:21 left in regulation and Mifsud accounted for the final of 6-2 with his 17th of the year at 17:40, both power play goals. The Gwinnett victory snaps a five-game winning streak for the Aces and a 10-game winning streak for Gustafson, who finished with 29 saves in losing for the first time since December 29.

The Aces (30-12-2) head back to Alaska to play five home games in six nights, beginning Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. against the Fresno Falcons, followed by a three-game set with the Phoenix Roadrunners Friday through Sunday, February 9-11. The first two games of the series start at 7:15 p.m., with the Sunday "Skate with the Aces," presented by Fred Meyer, slated for a 5:05 p.m. face-off. Tickets for next week's games are available by calling 258-ACES or logging onto www.alaskaaces.com, while all five games will be broadcast live on flagship station KFQD 750 AM.



ECHL Stories from February 3, 2007


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