ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Emil Molin tallied his third two-goal game of the season to fuel the Idaho Steelheads (19-17-5) to a 3-1 win over the Alaska Aces (15-20-5) at Sullivan Arena. With the win, the Steelheads are 12-3-1 in their last 16 games and have climbed to fifth place in the Western Conference.
Steelheads goaltender Jack Campbell made 37 saves on the night, losing his bid for a second consecutive shutout when Tommaso Traversa scored for Alaska at 12:28 of the third period to make it a 3-1 game. That was all the Aces could manage, as Campbell was outstanding again. Traversa’s goal snapped Campbell’s shutout streak at 121:24 dating back to the third period of last Saturday night’s game against Tulsa at CenturyLink Arena.
Molin got the Steelheads on the board first at 6:25 of the first period, slamming a rebound into an open net. Shawn Boutin started the play at the right point, sliding a pass across the ice to the left corner where Kyle Jean was streaking towards the net. Aces goaltender Troy Redmann dove across to make the initial save on Jean, but was out of the play for Molin’s second chance.
The Steelheads added to their lead in the second period on the power play. After Alaska’s Garret Hunt was called for his second penalty of the period for slashing Zach Yuen, along with coincidental roughing minors to both players, the Idaho power play went to work. Joe Basaraba, playing in his first game back from injured reserve after missing 24 contests, curled around the top of the right circle and fooled everyone with a slick pass to Carson McMillan at the bottom of the left wing circle. McMillan one-timed his seventh of the year to make it a 2-0 Steelhead lead at 13:12.
The Steelheads scored both of their goals on Friday night by forcing turnovers in the offensive zone, and Saturday night they did it again. Just 1:10 after McMillan’s goal, Molin stripped the puck away from an Ace right between the circles of the Alaska zone and fired a wrist shot past Redmann’s blocker for his 16th goal of the season, tying him for the Steelheads’ team lead and making it 3-0.
Molin had an opportunity for the hat trick in the third period, with his deflection beating Redmann but ringing off the cross bar.
The Idaho penalty kill was perfect once again. The Steelheads have given up only two shorthanded goals in eight January games, clicking at 93.9 percent.
The Steelheads look to sweep the three game series against the Aces in a matinee finale on Sunday.
With Idaho Steelheads release
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