Connolly buries Colorado with fourth career hat trick before 5,261 fans
March 15, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Brendan Connolly earned a hat trick, added an assist, was +5 and the Alaska Aces led wire-to-wire, crushing the Colorado Eagles in a 6-2 victory before 5,261 fans at Sullivan Arena on Saturday.
Connolly's performance was the Aces' second hat trick of the season, his first in Aces colors, and the fourth of his career (first since a four-goal game vs. Orlando in 2012-13). His linemates, Chris Francis and Dean Chelios, combined for eight points and +15 en route to a 2-0-1 series against the Eagles.
The Aces ended the night three points behind Utah for fourth place in the Pacific Division.
Following a pair of penalty kills, the Aces opened the floodgates offensively with three goals in a span of 1:41 to blitz Colorado for a 3-0 lead. Erik Higby finished off Justin Breton's centering pass into an open net after Aaron Crandall was stripped of the puck in the trapezoid at 11:15 of the first period. Chelios, making his Aces debut, delivered a valiant block of a Nathan Moon rebound attempt, then led the counter attack with a shot from the right side, driving the Colorado net.
Connolly buried the rebound at 12:22 for a 2-0 lead.
The Aces went back for more on the next shift and Landon Oslanski whipped a point-to-point pass to Corey Syvret, whose blast was kicked away by Crandall but to Francis in the slot. Francis stashed the rebound through Crandall's five-hole at 12:56 for a 3-0 lead, forcing Colorado to burn their timeout.
The strategy appeared to work short term and the Eagles posted back-to-back goals to cut the deficit to 3-2 in the second period. Chris Knowlton snuck a wrister past Niklas Lundstrom off the rush at 2:19 and Kyle Kramer followed with a wraparound attempt at 8:08. The Aces appeared to seize a 4-2 lead on a Michael Markovic rebound, but the goal was overturned after an officials review.
Connolly kept pressing with the attack and buried a wrister from the right circle at 12:15, after taking Chelios' drop pass and burying the rebound off a blocked shot for a 4-2 cushion. Connolly then set up Evan Renwick's first career goal with 6:29 remaining, a snipe from the right circle for a 5-2 bulge.
Just 21 seconds into the third period, the Aces took off with a two-on-one rush and Connolly hammered a slap shot past Crandall from the left circle, securing the hat trick and 6-2 cushion.
Lundstrom won back-to-back games in a two-day span for the first time since November 28-29 and made 37 saves.
NOTES: The Aces scratched Greg Wolfe (suspension), Felix Poulin, Tim Coffman, Ryan Tesink, Brad Gorham and Troy Redmann ... the Aces wore specialty designed St. Patrick's themed jerseys ... the Aces have won 17 of 20 lifetime meetings with Colorado at Sullivan Arena and finished the season series at 6-4-2 ... Scott Warner, a UAA alumnus who signed a contract earlier in the day, recorded one shot on goal ... Oslanski recorded an assist and has two points in his first two Aces games ... the Aces penalty kill held Colorado to a 1-of-15 clip in the series ... Connolly has five points (3g-2a) since returning from injury, now tied for fifth in league scoring.
The Aces begin a ten-game road trip Wednesday, Mar. 18 at Citizens Business Bank Arena, visiting the Ontario Reign at 6:00 p.m. (KFQD/ECHL.TV).
For Kelly Cup championship merchandise, 2014-15 season tickets, corporate sponsorship packages, and more information, please call 907-258-ACES. The Aces can also be visited on Facebook at www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey or on Twitter, @AlaskaAces.
Three Stars:
1. AK - B. Connolly
2. AK - E. Renwick
3. AK - D. Chelios
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