Steelheads lead series with 4-1 win in Alaska
Published on April 21, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
BOISE, Idaho - The Idaho Steelheads rode the outstanding play of goalie Dan Ellis to a 4-1 win over the Alaska Aces in Game 3 of the Syringa Bank ECHL Pacific Division Finals in Anchorage Tuesday night before a sold out crowd at Sullivan Arena. Ellis stopped 29 of 30 shots, as the Steelheads claimed a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.
After a Lance Galbraith goal was disallowed early in the first period on a high-sticking call, Dan Vandermeer got Idaho on the board with the all-important first goal at 12:28. Sean Peach and Andrei Vasilyev assisted. Alaska outshot Idaho 11-6 in the period.
Alaska tied the score at 1:47 of the second with a Chris Lipsett goal. That was as close as the Aces would come, as Jan Kopecky intercepted a bad Alaska clearing pass and beat Aces netminder Dan Murphy for the unassisted, game-winning goal at 11:13. Kopecky's score was the only shot on goal Idaho recorded in the second period. Ellis again stoned the Aces, stopping all 11 scoring attempts.
Lance Galbraith scored one that counted at 6:13 of the third, beating Murphy for a 3-1 Idaho lead as he tapped in a pass from linemate Zenon Konopka. The goal was Galbraith's team-leading fifth of the playoffs. The Aces once again pressured the Idaho net, but Ellis again was up to the challenge. Idaho sealed the victory on a Derek Paget empty-net goal at 18:39.
Ellis improved his playoff record to 5-1, while Alaska's Murphy falls to 4-2. Game 4 of the Pacific Division finals is back on Sullivan Arena ice Wednesday at 9:05 p.m. MST. Join the Voice of the Steelheads, Britt Talbert, for the live play-by-play broadcast on ESPN 1350 KTIK - The Ticket.
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