Long Beach Attempts to Set Record At Aces' Expense

February 17, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


Alaska Aces (39-7-3) vs. Long Beach Ice Dogs (28-16-5)

Forwards Cam Keith and Ryan Ramsay, along with defenseman Patrick Wellar and goaltender Matt Underhill, all figure to be back in the lineup as the Aces open a three-game set at Sullivan Arena against Long Beach tonight at 7:15 p.m.

Something's Got to Give:

Long Beach will be attempting to set a new ECHL record with its 11th straight road victory tonight, a streak that began after a 5-4 shootout loss in Vegas December 19. The Ice Dogs are unbeaten in their last 13 away from home (12-0-1), dating to a 4-3 setback in Reading December 10, and are 14-1-1 in their previous 16 games overall.

Meanwhile, Alaska has won eight straight games at Sullivan Arena by a combined score of 46-11, 12 of its last 13 contests overall, and 19 out of 20 at home. Each team is coming off a win over Phoenix, as the Aces completed a three-game sweep at the Sully with a 5-2 decision last Sunday and the Ice Dogs emerged with a 3-1 triumph Tuesday in the Valley of the Sun. Long Beach may be seven points out of first place in the Pacific Division, but its 18-5-2 road record is the best in the league by one-half game over Alaska.

Goaltender of the Week:

Chris Beckford-Tseu became just the fourth ECHL netminder in league history to take home ECHL Goalie of the Week honors three times in a single season when he received the award after posting three wins over Phoenix last weekend with a 1.33 GAA and a .944 save percentage. He has since been called back up to Peoria (AHL), and also has been sent up to St. Louis (NHL) twice this season. Beckford-Tseu currently leads the ECHL with a 1.87 goals against average, followed by Alaska's starter tonight, Matt Underhill, who ranks second at 2.16. Both goalies have won ECHL Goaltender of the Month awards, and Underhill leads all netminders with four shutouts and 23 wins.

Head-to-Head:

Since Davis Payne took over as Alaska's head coach, the Aces have gone 18-4-1 against the Ice Dogs, including a three-game sweep of Long Beach in the 2005 West Division Finals. The Aces have an overall record of 24-24-3 against the Ice Dogs during the regular season, 12-9-1 at home and 12-15-2 at Long Beach Arena. In the Payne era, Alaska has taken 12 of 14 meetings at LBA, including all three games this season by a combined score of 13-3. The Aces swept the Ice Dogs 5-0 and 5-2 over the first weekend in December then held off a late rally to win 3-1 February 1st, which remains Long Beach's only loss since January 7. Underhill, who figures to start all three games this weekend, has allowed just one goal on 58 shots (.983) in two previous victories over the Ice Dogs.

Aces Shuffle:

Alaska needs an 18-5 finish to break the ECHL record for most points and best winning percentage in a single season (Louisiana, 2001-02) ... the Aces boast three of the league's top six scorers in Mike Scott, Alex Leavitt (who has an ECHL-best 46 assists and a rookie-high 61 points), and Barrett Heisten ... Scott scored four goals and assisted on four others in the three-game sweep of Phoenix last weekend ... he also leads the ECHL with a +34 rating, slightly ahead of teammates Peter Metcalf (+33) and Leavitt (+30) ... Metcalf leads all defenseman in plus/minus, with teammates Ryan Gaucher (+21) and Matt Shasby (+20) his nearest competitors ... eight of the 14 skaters who have dressed for each of Alaska's 10 games are averaging more than a point per game over that span.



ECHL Stories from February 17, 2006


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