Nastiuk Shuts out Phoenix, 5-0

Published on March 12, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Kevin Nastiuk atoned for an earlier loss to Phoenix by stopping all 22 shots he faced as Alaska maintained its one-point lead in the West Division with a 5-0 whitewash of the Roadrunners in front of 4,189 Wednesday at Sullivan Arena.

Nastiuk had seen his Aces debut spoiled in Phoenix February 21, when he turned aside 33 of 38 shots in a 5-2 loss, but has not tasted defeat since, with Wednesday's victory marking his fourth in a row since that setback. He became the third different Alaska goaltender to record a shutout this season, joining Chris Holt and Jean-Philippe Lamoureux (who owns an ECHL record-tying seven). The Aces have blanked nine different opponents among their 37 wins this season, two shy of the league record, set in 2003-04 by the Wheeling Nailers.

Alaska controlled much of the first period but had to settle for a 1-0 lead, gained on the first shot against one of its 2006 Kelly Cup heroes, Chris Beckford-Tseu, who was unable to stop Brett Hemingway's re-direction of a Lance Galbraith shot on the power play at 1:39. Beckford-Tseu (35-5-2 in the regular season over three years with the Aces, 8-4 with three shutouts in the '06 ECHL title run) stopped the remaining 14 shots Alaska fired in the first period, but fell behind 2-0 when Colin Hemingway beat him with a wrist shot from the slot at 4:32 of the second, with the Aces on a two-man advantage.

The score remained 2-0 until the final six minutes of the middle frame, when Alaska scored three goals in a span of 5:19 to break the game open. Brett Hemingway set up Jordan Foreman's ninth of the year off the rush, Matt Stefanishion ripped a slap shot just underneath the crossbar for his 16th, and Luke Erickson converted a virtual tap-in for his 18th and the third power play goal of the game for the Aces with 57.2 seconds left in the period.

A scoreless third period followed, securing Nastiuk's shutout, with the shots finishing 41-22 in favor of Alaska, now winners of seven of eight overall and 14 of its last 16 at home. The Aces (37-21-3) play the Roadrunners again Friday and Saturday night at 7:15 p.m., followed by their regular season finale at Sullivan Arena Sunday at 3:05 p.m. Alaska heads to Phoenix for two more head-to-head matchups March 19 and 20. All games will be broadcast live on KFQD AM 750, with Peanut Farm Pre-Game Show coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to the opening face-off.

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