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Now and again, picking at the what-ifs is really just another way of killing time and rehashing the event while winding down the night.Good teams sometimes play well and nonetheless lose.The Alaska Aces discovered as much Sunday, when they surrendered the first three goals of the game and fell 3-2 on the road to the Ontario Reign in California.After all, they're not the only strong hockey club in the ECHL."I thought the guys played hard,'' Aces coach Keith McCambridge said by cell phone. "We definitely got some chances. The effort was there overall."But you get down to that team in the first period and they're very stingy, and they really limit your chances. You hate to lose, but you can't fault the effort.''Still, Sunday's loss at Citizens Business Bank Arena carried a bit more sting than usual for the Aces, given that it marked the first time through 18 games this season that they have suffered consecutive defeats. Alaska lost 4-3 at Stockton on Friday.As was the case in Stockton, the Aces scored in the waning minutes -- Colin Hemingway did the honors again -- to pull within one goal. All it got them was a second straight one-goal loss.Alaska (12-5-1) can salvage its three-game road trip tonight when it closes the journey with another game at Ontario (10-6-2).Meanwhile, help is on the way. Stalwart defenseman Derick Martin, who McCambridge named an alternate captain in training camp, is scheduled to be in California in time to play tonight. Martin, who joined the Aces last February, has spent the entire season up in the American Hockey League with the Providence Bruins."He's physical, he defends so well,'' McCambridge said. "He sets a tone with work ethic and shows how to come to play every night.''The Aces on Sunday already enjoyed one reinforcement -- rookie defenseman T.J. Fast was sent down from AHL Peoria for the second time this season, though he isn't likely to be with Alaska too long.Ontario jumped to a 3-0 lead midway through the game -- that's the quickest three-goal deficit the Aces have faced this season -- courtesy of Geoff Walker and Dusty Collins. Collins scored less than four minutes into the game, and Walker scored less than three minutes into the second period. Walker scored again, this time on a penalty shot, to give the Reign a 3-0 advantage at 10 minutes, 26 seconds of the second period.The Aces countered with Lance Galbraith's first strike in an Alaska sweater. Galbraith, the longtime Idaho Steelheads winger who joined the team last week, deflected Bryan Miller's drive during a 5-on-3 Aces advantage with six seconds left in the second period.Hemingway bagged his team-leading 12th goal with 2:01 left to play, but the Aces couldn't crack Ontario rookie goaltender John Murray again, even after McCambridge pulled goalie Jean Philippe-Lamoureux for an extra attacker.The Aces killed all eight Reign power plays, including two short two-man advantages, and converted twice on five power plays.That dominance on special teams usually leads to prosperity."They're disappointed with the loss,'' McCambridge said of his players. "Most nights, when you play the way we did, you get the result.''
Shuffling the deckMartin played 14 of Providence's 21 games during his stint there, with no points and a minus 4 rating."He's going to come back with that much more confidence and poise,'' McCambridge said.Cam Keith's assist on Hemingway's goal extended the winger's point streak to 13 games, tops in the league this season. He owns 4-14--18 totals in that span. Keith furnished an even rating -- in 18 games, he has yet to earn a minus rating.Hemingway pushed his point streak to six games (5-4--9). A late goal in Stockton that was originally credited to Hemingway will be credited to rookie center Jordan Foreman once league officials make the adjustment. Foreman tipped Hemingway's shot.Center Luke Erickson's six-game point streak was snapped.With Fast back, rookie Erik Felde, who played defense against Stockton, moved back to the wing. Rookie winger Mike Curry was a scratch.