Stellar goaltending and suffocating penalty-killing are two principal reasons the Alaska Aces have raced to the top of the ECHL standings this hockey season.

Neither has been forthcoming in the first two games of the club's longest road trip of the campaign.

The Aces got away with it Wednesday, but Friday night they could not escape the consequences of those shortcomings.

Alaska surrendered a season-high three power-play goals and fell 6-3 to the Stockton Thunder in California.

The loss in the opener of a three-game set snapped the Aces' franchise-record streak of 12 consecutive road games (7-0-5) earning at least one point in the standings.

In the Aces' first 42 games this season, only twice did they permit an opponent as many as two power-play strikes in a game, and the last time that occurred was in Wednesday's 7-6 victory at Bakersfield.

Likewise, second-year goaltender Adam Courchaine went his first 18 starts without allowing an opponent to nick him for more than three goals. Now, he has surrendered six goals and five goals, respectively, in the last two games.

Stockton (19-18-4) scored six minutes into the game at Stockton Arena, with Colten Hayes furnishing the power-play goal. A mere 12 seconds later, Stockton's Matt Reber, recently traded to the Thunder from Utah in exchange for former Aces center Jordan Foreman, struck to push Stockton's advantage to 2-0.

The first of Kevin Baker's two goals, on the power play less than seven minutes into the second period, staked the Thunder to a 3-0 lead.

Aces defenseman Bryan Miller cut the deficit to 3-1 in short order with the first of his two man-advantage goals on the evening.

After that, though, the Aces (31-6-6) only traded goals with the Thunder -- Zach Harrison and Miller delivered the Aces' goals -- and Stockton cemented the win with Matt Foy's empty-net goal with 89 seconds remaining.

Shuffling the deck

Center Nick Mazzolini's two assists extended his point streak to eight games. He owns 3-10--13 totals in that stretch.

Defenseman Steve Ward's assist gives him a seven-game point streak and 1-8--9 totals in that span.

Winger Wes Goldie's five-game goal streak was snapped -- he had eight goals in that span.

Neither captain Brian Swanson or winger Matt Ambroz, who are on the trip but still recovering from upper-body injuries, played.

Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.

Aces 0 1 2 -- 3

Stockton 2 2 2 -- 6

First Period -- 1, Stockton, Hayes 1 (Foy, Kytnar), 6:00 (pp); 2, Stockton, Reber 7 (O'Connor, Kytnar), 6:12. Penalties -- Kremyr, Aces (hooking), 4:10; Kytnar, Stockton (hooking), 20:00.

Second Period -- 3, Stockton, Baker 17 (D'Alvise, Foy), 6:32 (pp); 4, Aces, Miller 7 (Ward, Mazzolini), 8:59 (pp); 5, Stockton, Baker 18 (Campbell, Doyle), 15:51 (pp). Penalties -- Foy, Stockton (boarding), :25; Anderson, Aces (high-sticking), 5:43; Marsh, Aces (delay of game), 6:06; Foy, Stockton (tripping), 7:38; Ward, Aces (cross-checking), 14:33.

Third Period -- 6, Aces, Harrison 4, 1:02; 7, Stockton, Campbell 3 (Baker), 7:42; 8, Aces, Miller 8 (Kissel, Mazzolini), 13:38 (pp); 9, Stockton, Foy 11 (Fulton, Hayes), 18:31. Penalties -- Foy, Stockton (hooking), 8:49; Anderson, Aces (tripping), 10:40; Doyle, Stockton (hooking), 13:09; Ruegsegger, Aces (interference), 15:07.

Shots on goal -- Aces 6-12-9--27. Stockton 12-9-13--34.

Power-play Opportunities -- Aces 2 of 5. Stockton 3 of 6.

Goalies -- Aces, Courchaine, 14-4-3 (33 shots-28 saves). Stockton, Stalock, 3-0-0 (27-24).

A -- 5,829 (9,737). T -- 2:13.