Aces Cough Up 4-1 Lead, Recover To Win 5-4
Published on November 8, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. -- Undeterred after watching a 4-1 lead evaporate, Scott Reid stopped five of six shootout attempts and rookie Nick Mazzolini buried the game-winner in the sixth round as Alaska out-lasted the Thunder, 5-4, before 9,392 at Stockton Arena.
The Aces are unbeaten in their last four games and move to within two points of first place Idaho at 7-3-1 overall, 3-2 on the road. Alaska heads to Ontario tomorrow to finish up its three-games-in-three-nights weekend against Ontario 4 p.m. AT. The Reign beat Victoria 4-3 Saturday for their second win in a row and are 5-6 overall. The game will be broadcast live on the flagship home of Alaska pro hockey, KFQD 750 AM.
The Aces raced to a 3-0 lead after the first 11 minutes on goals by Colin Hemingway, Alexandre Imbeault, and Nick Tuzzolino. But penalties and a Stockton power play clicking at nearly 30 percent changed the complexion of the game, beginning with Craig Valette's goal in a five-on-three situation with 5:15 left in the first period.
Another five-on-three proved disastrous for Stockton as Hemingway stole a pass in the high slot and went coast-to-coast for his second goal of the night and Alaska's league leading sixth shorthanded strike of the season, a backhander through the legs of Bryan Pitton at 3:44 of the middle frame. The Thunder answered with power play goals by Chris D'Alvise and James Bates in the final eight minutes of the second period, then tied the contest early in the third on a goal by Pitton's younger brother, Jason, at 1:52 after an Aces turnover.
The game remained knotted at 4-4 through the end of regulation and overtime. After each team failed to score in the first two rounds of the skills competition, Imbeault scored in the third round, only to be answered by Oren Eisenman. After two more failed chances for each team, Mazzolini beat goaltender Pitton while winger Pitton was stopped by Reid, who finished with 34 saves in 65 minutes. Alaska was out-shot 38-32 and killed just six of nine Stockton power plays while going 1-for-6 on its own man advantage opportunities.
ECHL Stories from November 8, 2009
- Reign Shuts Out Aces, 3-0 - Ontario Reign
- Alaska Blanked In Ontario, 3-0 - Alaska Aces
- Royals Pull Out Shootout Win Over South Carolina, 5-4 - Reading Royals
- Stingrays Comeback Falls Short 5-4 In Shootout Against Royals - South Carolina Stingrays
- Jackals End Weekend With Third Straight Loss - Elmira Jackals
- Devils Sweep Jackals With 3-2 Win - Trenton Devils
- Too Close For Comfort - Kalamazoo Wings
- Late Comeback Not Enough, Checkers Lose 5-4 - Charlotte Checkers
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Royals Activate Forward Daniel Steiner - Reading Royals
- Countdown To Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Checkers Get Two Back From Affiliates - Charlotte Checkers
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Aces Cough Up 4-1 Lead, Recover To Win 5-4 - Alaska Aces
- Sellout Crowd Of 9,392 Witnesses Three-Goal Thunder Rally, Fall In Shootou - Stockton Thunder
- Salmon Kings Drop Game To Reign - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Salmon Kings Land Team's First Player In NHL - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Condors Come From Behind To Top Wranglers - Bakersfield Condors
- Reign Takes Down Salmon Kings, 4-3 - Ontario Reign
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