That\'s Why They Play the GamesâAces win 4-3
February 1, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
BAKERSFIELD, California â One night after being drubbed 7-1, Anchorage recorded its first win of 2003 with a 4-3 shootout decision over Bakersfield before 6,404 Saturday night at Centennial Garden.
The Aces controlled play for much of the first period and Paul Williams gave them a 1-0 lead at 13:32 with a backhander over prostrate Condor goaltender Kevin St. Pierre. The period marked the first time in 19 games that Anchorage had not allowed a goal in the opening 20 minutes. Bakersfield (23-13-8) dominated the second period, outshooting the Aces 16-4 and tying the game courtesy of Christian Skoryna at 6:46. But Anchorage scored twice on those four shots, regaining the advantage on a laser by Yvan Corbin, his 24th goal of the year, on a power play at 13:46. Peter McRae pushed the lead to 3-1 after two periods (marking only the fifth time all year the Aces led going into the final period) by flipping home a backhander for his first professional goal with 1:35 left in the middle frame.
Bakersfield knotted the contest at 3-3 with goals on its first two shots of the third period. Skoryna tipped home his fourth of the series at 2:42, and four minutes later Jamie Cooke fired a one-timer past Anchorage starter Ryan Person for his third of the series. A penalty to Ruslan Batyrshin coupled with a bench minor set the Condors up with a two-man advantage with 1:46 left in regulation, but the Aces held Bakersfield at bay and forced a shootout. After Shawn Byram scored in the second round for the Condors, Anchorage scored on its final two attempts of the extra session (Corbin and Kimbi Daniels) to scratch out the victory. Person finished with 33 saves in regulation and four more in the shootout in picking up his third win of the year.
The Aces (11-32-2 overall) improved to 5-2 in shootouts while Bakersfield has dropped eight in a row, including four to Anchorage. The Aces ended an 11-game losing streak, which tied a WCHL record, and a 12-game winless skid in posting their first road win since December 17 and their first victory of any kind since December 29. The two clubs now head to Anchorage for two more games against each other at Sullivan Arena Tuesday and Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. All games are broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM and at www.anchorageaces.com or www.kfqd.com, with Jack Michaels calling the play-by-play. Coverage begins 20 minutes prior to the opening face-off, presented by GCI.
ECHL Stories from February 1, 2003
- That's Why They Play the GamesâAces win 4-3 - Alaska Aces
- Steelheads Rally Past Gulls, 6-5 - Idaho Steelheads
- Gulls Lose Heart-breaker in Shootout - San Diego Gulls
- IceGators rally to pick up point, but fall 6-5 in PIM-filled OT affair - Louisiana IceGators
- Three first period powerplay goals pace Columbia in a 6-4 win - Greenville Grrrowl
- Elmira Downs Rockford 6-3 As Stewart, Lowe Score Pairs - Elmira Jackals
- Kingfish fall to Ice Pilots, 5-2 - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Bullies Demote Generals, Increase Division Lead - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Louisiana game notes vs. Florida - Louisiana IceGators
- Nailers Slip Past Sea Wolves, 5-4 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Countdown to Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Jackals Beat Mallards With Solid Effort At Home - Elmira Jackals
- Jackals Sign Veteran Forward Plamondon - Elmira Jackals
- All Along the Coast - ECHL
- Falcons Lose, 4-1 - Fresno Falcons
- Condors Dominate Aces, 7-1 - Bakersfield Condors
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