Aces blast Idaho in shots, 46-23, settle for shootout point
January 5, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - William Rapuzzi, Mitch Wahl, and Tommy Grant scored in the first three rounds and the Idaho Steelheads escaped in the shootout, 4-3 over the Alaska Aces (19-9-2) before 4,620 fans at Sullivan Arena on Saturday.
The Aces, who outshot Idaho at a 46-23 clip and tied their season high in shots, finished their season long eight-game homestand at 5-2-1 while Alex Kangas made 19 saves. Idaho counterpart Pat Nagle took the win with 43 stops, denying Evan Trupp, Shawn Skelly and Nick Mazzolini in the three rounds of the shootout.
The teams combined for four goals in the first period and Rapuzzi's sixth goal of the year put Idaho ahead 1-0 at 3:53, but Ross Ring-Jarvi buried a second chance puck at the right circle with 6:23 left to tie the game. Brett Robinson crashed the net and was awarded with his fourth goal of the season with 1:49 left, and the Aces faced a pivotal moment after a roughing penalty put them shorthanded on the next shift.
Evan Trupp responded with his 10th goal of the year, shorthanded, with 19 seconds left for a 2-2 tie when he snapped a rolling puck under the crossbar from the left circle.
In the second period, Skelly was set up by Mazzolini at the left circle and snapped his fourth goal of the season on the power play with 8:14 remaining. Just 21 seconds later, David deKastrozza set up Rob Linsmayer on a redirection goal from the inside of the left circle for a 3-3 tie.
The Aces blasted Idaho for a 15-7 shots edge in the third period but were forced to fend off a late holding penalty in the final two minutes of regulation. Their best chance to win the game was on a two-on-one rush in overtime.
Mazzolini attacked the Idaho zone from the right wing and slipped a pass to the net that Brad Richard tipped behind Nagle. But the deflected puck rolled along the goal line, followed by a blast of the goal horn and Aces fans celebrating an apparent victory. But the goal was overturned after officials conversed with the goal judge.
Following goals by Rapuzzi and Wahl in the first two rounds, Nagle's stop on Mazzolini set up Grant's winner in the third round on a snapper from between the circles.
NOTES: The Aces scratched Peter Sivak, Olivier Roy, Sean Curry, Andy Taranto, Corey Syvret, Brad Gorham and Brendan Connolly .... the Aces fell to 4-2-2 in the season series against Idaho ... the game was their first into overtime or a shootout at home for the season ... Ring-Jarvi has collected nine points in his last nine games ... Idaho was also missing their leading scorer, Anthony Nigro due to injury ... Gerald Coleman, added to the Aces roster earlier in the week, was back in uniform for the first time since the last season's playoffs and backed up Kangas.
The Aces return to play with a three game road series at the Cow Palace, beginning next Thursday against the San Francisco Bulls at 6:30 p.m. (GCI/KFQD). Season ticket and sponsorship packages are currently available through the Aces office at 15th & Gambell. For more information, please call the Aces at 907.258.ACES or visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey.
Three Stars:
1. IDH - T. Grant
2. AK - E. Trupp
3. IDH - B. Robinson
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