Anchorage Daily News

Josh Soares scored two power-play goals and assisted on Alaska's two other goals Saturday night to lift the Aces to a 4-2 ECHL win over the Stockton Thunder at Sullivan Arena.

In his three games back since being returned to the Aces from the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League, Soares, a rookie, has scored five goals and assisted on three others. He is Alaska's leading scorer with 19-19--38 totals in just 27 games. Soares also fought Stockton captain Brad Farynuk in the waning seconds and dropped him with a left hand to round out his Gordie Howe hat trick -- at least one goal, one assist and one fight. Soares received an instigator penalty, and because he did so in the last five minutes, likely will have to serve a one-game suspension.

The Aces also received goals from Olivier Filion, who has scored 10 goals in the last 12 games, and Matt Robinson. Defenseman Peter Metcalf, the league's leading scorer among blueliners, added two assists.

Stockton scored two overtime victories in the first two games of the three-game series.