Aces finish January at 9-1-2, unbeaten in seven (regulation) at home
Published on February 1, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Tommy Mele's amazing goal and Gerald Coleman's save on Rob Linsmayer, each in the seventh round preserved an Alaska Aces (27-10-3, 57 points) victory, 3-2 in a shootout over the Idaho Steelheads before 4,835 fans at Sullivan Arena on Friday.
The Aces, who finished January at 9-1-2 and extended their lead to eight points, in first place (Mountain Division) over Colorado, were aided by second period goals from defenseman Brad Richard and Zach Davies.
Pat Nagle, returning from the AHL, took the loss on 40 saves.
Coleman made six saves in the opening period, including a pair of rush chances by David deKastrozza while Nagle turned away 13 Aces shots, not including two that rang the post.
Brett Robinson buried a snap shot off the rush at 8:38 of the second period for a 1-0 Idaho lead, which didn't last long. Richard answered with a power play goal from the left circle, a sharp angled shot that fooled Nagle after Brendan Connolly snuck a cross-ice, saucer pass through Idaho's penalty kill set-up at 11:18.
Tommy Grant banged in William Rapuzzi's backdoor pass at the right circle for an Idaho power play goal and 2-1 lead at 14:46, but the Aces responded again when Nick Mazzolini wired a feed to Davies at the high slot, who buried the wrister through traffic with 4:17 left in the second period for a 2-2 tie.
Nagle was busy in the third period and forced to make 13 saves, preserving the game into the overtime stages. Zach McKelvie had a bid for the win when he crashed the net, but Nagle got in front of his redirection to send the game into a shootout.
A 1-1 tie in the shootout was shattered when Mazzolini beat Nagle to the blocker side in the sixth round, but Damon Kipp answered to keep the game alive when he snuck a wrister under Coleman's glove. Mele then was dispatched over the boards and put the crowd into a frenzy with a fake, drawing Nagle open to the glove side. Mele then deked to his backhand and tucked the shot past Nagle in the seventh round.
Coleman stoned Rob Linsmayer in the bottom frame to close the contest.
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