Vegas Rallies to Salvage Series Finale

March 28, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


LAS VEGAS - Trailing 2-0 after 30 minutes, Las Vegas scored four unanswered goals and held off a late Alaska push to end its three-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the Aces before 5,497 Friday at Orleans Arena.

Alaska had won its last four games against the Wranglers and nine of its last 10 games overall heading into Friday's match-up, and seemed well on its way to another win when Matt Stefanishion scored a power play goal at 5:39 of the first period and Scott Burt followed three minutes later with his fourth goal in as many games for a 2-0 lead. The Aces continued to dominate for the next 20 minutes, but failed on three subsequent power play opportunities and saw Stefanishion hit the post on another chance.

Las Vegas, meanwhile, had mustered just five shots on goal while giving up 17 at the midway point of the second period when its league-worst power play (3-48 in nine previous games against Alaska) suddenly awoke against the top-ranked penalty kill unit in the ECHL. Having lost Cam Keith to injury earlier in the game, the Aces allowed power play goals to Dan Reidel and Mick Lawrence in a span of 2:37, then fell behind for the first time when Scott McCulloch beat goalie J.P. Lamoureux with a backhander at 18:38 of the middle frame.

The Wranglers pushed their advantage to 4-2 when Chris Neizner scored on a rebound with 9:07 left in regulation, a goal that proved crucial when Brett Hemingway became the 11th different Alaska player to reach double digits in goals with 5:21 remaining in the contest. Lawrence doused any comeback hopes, however, with an empty-netter in the game's final minute to send the Aces to only their third loss in 16 games and their second in the last seven on the road.

Second-place Idaho also lost, 3-1 at home to Ontario, so Alaska (43-23-3) maintains a five-point lead in the West Division with three games to play in its regular season. If the Aces win those games, they will claim their fourth division title in five years. The quest begins tomorrow night against Phoenix at 6:00 p.m. AT. Alaska split a pair against the Roadrunners last week in the Valley of the Sun. Tomorrow's game will be broadcast live on KFQD AM 750, with Peanut Farm Pre-Game Show coverage beginning at 5:45 p.m.



ECHL Stories from March 28, 2009


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