Idaho Blitzes Alaska Early, Then Hangs On For 6-4 Win

Published on December 3, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


BOISE, Idaho -- Idaho scored four unanswered goals in the final 10 minutes of the first period and never looked back in a 6-4 triumph over Alaska before 2,707 Thursday night at Qwest Arena.

After an uneventful opening 10 minutes, John Swanson scored on the power play, roofing a rebound over Aces starter Scott Reid. A misplay by Reid behind his own net led directly to the second goal, scored by Matt McKnight at 14:34, his first of the season. Two more penalties led to a five-on-three for Idaho, and Brad Miller celebrated his pro debut by blasting a slap shot past Reid with 3:21 left in the period. Reid was replaced by Sebastian Dahm, who was greeted with the game's four goal, a rebound stuffed home by Michael Olson, also making his pro debut, with 43 seconds left in the frame.

Trailing 4-0, Alaska got back into the game thanks to a series of Idaho penalties, beginning with Alexandre Imbeault's unassisted goal at 12:51 of the second period. Four minutes later, Mike Stuart ripped a drive from the high slot past Reid (who had re-entered the game at the start of the middle frame) to increase the Idaho spread to 5-1. Within a minute, the Aces rallied, scoring back-to-back goals on the power play in a span of 36 seconds to trim the gap to 5-3. Matt Stefanishion ended a 10-game drought with a slapper from the point, and Bryan Leitch, playing his first game in an Alaska sweater after being acquired in a trade two days before, scored from the right circle. When Brandon Kushniruk was called for a double-minor for high-sticking with 90 seconds left in the second period, the Aces seemed on the verge of completing the comeback.

But Alaska mustered little on that power play, and the score remained 5-3 until an empty-netter by Swanson, with Idaho again on the power play, sealed the outcome with 1:07 remaining. Stefanishion scored his second goal of the night, and eighth of the season, with nine seconds left to account for the final margin.

The Aces (10-9-2) drop 13 points behind Idaho in the West Division. The Steelheads own the league's best record at 17-3-1 and have won six straight games for the second time this year. Tomorrow night's rematch will be broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM, with coverage getting underway at 4:45 p,m. AT.

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