Aces move back into first overall, ECHL on 5-1-1 road swing
March 30, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
LAS VEGAS - Alex Belzile and Brett Findlay each recorded three point (1g-2a) games and the Alaska Aces (44-18-6, 94 points) seized the top record in the ECHL with a 5-4 victory over the Las Vegas Wranglers before a crowd of 4,090 at Orleans Arena on Sunday.
The Aces, claiming four points on the Las Vegas swing (three games in three days), improved to 5-1-1 on the current road trip (with games through Las Vegas, Bakersfield and Stockton) while nine different players hit the score sheet in the absence of captain Nick Mazzolini, missing his first game all season due to injury.
Findlay threw a pass at the net which deflected off Travis Fullerton for a 1-0 lead at 4:05 of the first period. Jeff May's power play goal tied the game with 11 minutes left after the Aces were whistled for a rare delay of game penalty, after James Martin threw the puck over the end zone glass from 140 feet away.
Carlo Finucci converted a rebound at 3:18 of the second period for a 2-1 Las Vegas edge, but the Aces leveled the score on Corey Syvret's sharp angled bid from the left circle at 4:34. Just 1:03 later, Zach McKelvie threw a puck through traffic, from the left circle that deflected past Fullerton for a 3-2 lead.
But on the next shift, Chad Nehring's rebound tied the game, capping off a four goal run in 3:02 for a 3-3 tie.
The score carried into the third period and the Aces established the cycle which generated Turner Elson's fourth goal of the season, putting the Aces in front, 4-3 at 4:52. Elson took Evan Trupp's pass, walked out from the left circle and rifled a wrister past Fullerton's blocker.
Belzile then drove the net from the left wing and converted his own rebound at 5:29 to extend the Aces lead to 5-3.
Nolan Julseth-White's third goal drew Las Vegas to a 5-4 deficit with 32 seconds left, but the Wranglers would get no closer and were nailed for two icing calls to close the game.
Aaron Crandall improved to 4-1-0 with the win on 28 saves.
NOTES: The Aces scratched Mazzolini, Dustin Molle, Mathew Sisca, Eli Zuck, David Eddy, Tommy Mele, and Ross Ring-Jarvi ... the Aces finished the season series 10-2-0 against Las Vegas, also earning a victory in their final regular season game at Orleans Arena (the Wranglers will move to a new Las Vegas venue next season) ... the Aces outshot Las Vegas, 49-32.
The Aces have a nine-day layoff before returning to play on Wednesday, Apr. 9 against the Colorado Eagles at 5:05 p.m. (KFQD) at Budweiser Events Center. 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. LV - C. Finucci
2. AK - B. Findlay
3. AK - J. Morrison
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