Special Teams, Lamoureux Carry Alaska To 5-3 Victory
Published on March 25, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
LAS VEGAS - The Alaska Aces scored four power play goals in less than eight minutes in the second period to take control , then hung on for a 5-3 victory over Las Vegas at Orleans Arena behind the sterling play of goalie J.P. Lamoureux.
3,744 showed up for Tuesday's game, featuring a special nine o'clock face-off time and a fast Las Vegas start, as the Wranglers out-shot the visitors 13-7 in the opening 20 minutes and grabbed a 1-0 lead when Scott McCulloch scored the first goal of his pro career at 10:26. The game turned on a sequence of penalties early in the second period that capped a two-week period of tension between the two clubs.
Three major penalties and game misconducts as well as a match penalty were handed out in a brawl that left Vegas with 11 skaters for the final 37 minutes of regulation and Alaska with a two-man advantage for a full five minutes. The Aces took full advantage of the power play, scoring twice in 36 seconds on goals by Cam Keith and Josh Soares, making his return to the lineup for the first time since January 31 after another lengthy stint in the American Hockey League.
Nick Tuzzolino's blast from the blue line came with 20 seconds left in the five-on-three and pushed the margin to 3-1 at 7:25 of the middle frame. WIth Alaska back on a conventional five-on-four power play, Scott Burt ripped a one-timer past Wranglers starter and former Ace John DeCaro at 10:54, set up by defenseman Bryan Miller, who assisted on all four Alaska goals in the period.
Kelly Czuy brought Las Vegas within 4-2 on the power play with 5:05 left in the period, only the third goal for the Wranglers with the man advantage in 48 opportunities against the Aces ECHL-best penalty kill. Another goal by McCulloch 1:52 before the break trimmed the gap to 4-3, but Lamoureux took over in the final period, making six spectacular saves in the first five minutes of the frame and finishing with 34 to collect his league-leading 31st victory. An empty-netter by Cam Keith with 9.4 seconds remaining accounted for the final margin.
Alaska has won five of its last six games on the road and 13 of 15 overall to run its record to 43-22-3 heading into Friday's rematch with Las Vegas (31-29-8 after a third consecutive loss) at 6:30 p.m. AT. The Aces complete their two-week trip with another bout against Phoenix Saturday at 6:00 p.m. AT. Both games will be broadcast live on KFQD AM 750, with Peanut Farm Pre-Game Show coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to face-off.
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