Utah ties game with :02 left, nips Alaska 5-4 in shootout
December 29, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Olivier Filion scored twice and assisted on another goal, but Alaska saw leads of 2-0 and 4-2 disappear in an eventual 5-4 shootout loss to Utah before a Friday night crowd of 5,762 at Sullivan Arena.
Utah's Scott Burt scored his second goal of the night with two seconds left in regulation, and after out-shooting the host Aces 6-0 in overtime, Andy Sertich gave the Grizzlies (13-12-3) just their second win in 14 games at Sullivan Arena with a goal in the seventh round of the ensuing shootout.
While killing three Utah power plays in the first period, including a five-on-three for 1:18, Alaska managed just one shot on goal, but nevertheless led 1-0 after Filion's drive from the high slot caromed off the crossbar behind Grizzlies goalie Nathan Lawson. Filion smoked a one-timer through Lawson's legs with the Aces on the power play six minutes into the second period for his ninth of the year and a two-goal margin, but Utah came storming back, with power play goals by Olivier Labelle and Burt coming 51 seconds apart resulting in a 2-2 tie with 8:46 left in the middle frame.
Cam Keith tipped in a Peter Metcalf slap shot from between the circles to push Alaska back in front with 4:57 left in the second period, and F.P. Guenette found Bo Cheesman for a wide-open one-timer at 8:33 of the third. Cheesman's 13th goal of the year seemed to give the Aces complete control at 4-2, but another power play goal, scored by Rob Sirianni, brought the Grizzlies within 4-3 at 13:16 of the final period. In the final moments, with the extra attacker on for Utah, a shot from the left half boards caromed directly to Burt, who whistled the equalizer past Alaska starter Derek Gustafson (32 saves) to deadlock the contest 4-4. Guenette and Vladimir Novak scored to give the Aces a 2-1 shootout lead after three rounds, but former Ace Justin Bourne converted in the fourth round, setting the stage for Sertich's heroics.
Alaska (16-9-3 overall, 9-1-2 at home) has slipped five points behind West Division-leading Victoria, 5-3 winners at Stockton. Matt Robinson left the game with an injury late in the second period and did not return, so the Aces likely will suit up just 13 skaters for tomorrow night's rematch against the Grizzlies at 7:15 p.m. The series finale will be played on New Year's Eve at 7:15 p.m. All regular season games are broadcast live on Alaska's flagship station, AM 750 KFQD, with coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to the opening face-off.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from December 29, 2007
- Falcons Fall 4-3 in Shootout - Fresno Falcons
- Steelheads Power Past RoadRunners 5-3 - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Royals Pull Out A Point In Shootout Loss To Trenton, 2-1 - Reading Royals
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Steelheads Second Period Burst Aids 5-3 Win Over RoadRunners - Idaho Steelheads
- Wildcatters double-up Sea Wolves - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Pilots Make it 3 Wins in 4 with 6-5 OT WIN over Everblades - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Four-goal third stops streaking Jackals 5-1 - Elmira Jackals
- 'Blades fall 6-5 in overtime to Pensacola - Florida Everblades
- 'Blades fall 6-5 in overtime to Pensacola - Florida Everblades
- Smith, Trenton shine in the shootout, beat Reading 2-1 - Trenton Devils
- Dayton Uses Special Teams to Defeat Wheeling - Wheeling Nailers
- Toneys Award! Thrill ride continues in Lynx win on Saturday - Augusta Lynx
- Cyclones Take 5-1 Win at Elmira For Seventh Straight Win - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Inferno take Lynx to Shootout - Columbia Inferno
- Checkers defeated by Stingrays, lose 5-2 - Charlotte Checkers
- Sea Wolves forward Lascek recalled to Norfolk - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Cyclones Loan Matt Macdonald To Rockford - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Royals Sign Larry Courville - Reading Royals
- Condors Game Preview - Bakersfield Condors
- Checkers Add Hartman And Burgess - Charlotte Checkers
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Bakersfield Condors - Stockton Thunder
- Three Checkers Players Called Up - Charlotte Checkers
- Grant McNeill and Stephen Werner Called up to Hershey - South Carolina Stingrays
- Beaudoin Called Up To American Hockey League's Rochester Americans - Dayton Bombers
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Jackals Slip Past Devils In Shootout 4-3 - Elmira Jackals
- Utah ties game with :02 left, nips Alaska 5-4 in shootout - Alaska Aces
- Grizzlies Defeat Alaska 5-4 In Shootout - Utah Grizzlies
- Chiefs Topple Nailers - Johnstown Chiefs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
