Aces absorb stunning one-goal defeat late in third period
Published on March 30, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
LAS VEGAS - Matt Tassone capped a three-goal rally by the Las Vegas Wranglers on a game winning goal with 36.5 seconds left in regulation, sending the Alaska Aces (43-18-6, 92 points) to a 4-3 defeat before 7,054 fans at Orleans Arena on Saturday.
The Aces, who squandered a 3-1 lead with less than two minutes left, were led by Evan Trupp's two goals while Turner Elson bagged a pair of assists. Las Vegas, became the second team since 2009-10 to hand the Aces a regular season loss when trailing after two periods, were lifted in the comeback with three goals in a span of 1:10 by Adam Hughesman, Chad Nehring and Matt Tassone.
One night after the Aces doused the Wranglers with a season-high 51 shots on goal, they proceeded to hammer 17 on net in the opening period but starting goaltender Travis Fullerton turned them all away. Two of his key saves included a point-blank backhander by Brendan Connolly at the goal mouth and a shorthanded breakaway by Peter Sivak.
Trupp got the Aces on the board just 23 seconds into the second period, scoring off the rush with a snap shot from the left circle. Justin Bernhardt answered on an outnumbered break, beating Aaron Crandall from the left circle for a 1-1 tie at 7:24.
Trupp's second goal of the game lifted the Aces to a 2-1 lead with 4:16 left in the period after Elson whipped a pass to Trupp at the right circle, as Elson was wiped out on the play. Trupp drifted on goal and unleashed a wrist shot to the upper corner, glove side on Fullerton.
With the Aces managing the puck for much of the third period, Jordan Morrison delivered a 3-1 lead with 2:18 to play, on a three-on-two rush. Morrison cut to the goal mouth from the right wing and stuffed a shot over Fullerton's glove.
The Aces, seemingly in control, turned the puck over in their own zone on the next shift and Adam Hughesman, left wide open, converted on a backhander at the goal mouth to draw Las Vegas within one at 18:13.
Following a timeout on the Aces bench, Chad Nehring leveled the game, 3-3 with 1:19 left after the defense turned the puck over at the right circle and his slapshot beat Crandall for his 20th goal of the season.
Tassone's shocking game winner came on an outnumbered attack, when he angled toward the right circle and snuck a wrister past Crandall with 36.5 seconds left for his 13th goal.
Crandall took the loss, the first of his pro career, with 24 saves.
ECHL Stories from March 30, 2014
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- ECHL Today - March 30 - ECHL
- Aces absorb stunning one-goal defeat late in third period - Alaska Aces
- Wranglers Score Three Goals in Final Two Minutes, Stun Aces 4-3 - Las Vegas Wranglers
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