Aces Rally Past Reign

Published on January 30, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ONTARIO, Calif. - Nick Mazzolini scored the game-tying goal with 1:23 left in regulation and added another in the shootout as Alaska out-lasted Ontario 3-2 before 5,898 Friday night at Citizens Business Bank Arena.

The Aces (20-19-3) have gone 9-3-2 over their last 14 games and are 2-1-1 on a six-game road trip that continues tomorrow night in a rematch with the Reign at 6:00 p.m. AT. Alaska will travel immediately after tomorrow's contest for a Sunday matinee against Stockton at 3:00 p.m. AT. Both games will be broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM, with coverage getting underway 15 minutes prior to face-off.

For the first time in seven games, the Aces did not score the game's opening goal; instead, they fell behind almost immediately when Mike Howe burst into the attacking zone on a three-on-one and fired a wrist shot over the right shoulder of goalie Frank Doyle just 47 seconds into the contest. Another goal off the rush, scored by Greg Hogeboom at 2:18 of the second period in a four-on-four situation, pushed the Reign ahead 2-0.

Alaska got on the board at 6:39 of the middle frame when the threat of a forecheck by Derick Martin created an Ontario turnover, with Matt Stefanishion stealing a jittery clearing pass up the middle and whistling a shot past Reign netminder Curtis Darling for his 13th of the season. Ontario failed to capitalize on a pair of five-on-three power play opportunities totaling exactly three minutes, and the score remained 2-1 until Aces head coach pulled Doyle in favor of the extra attacker with 1:38 remaining. Shortly thereafter, Alexandre Imbeault's shot from the high slot caromed off Darling's pads directly to Mazzolini, alone in the right circle, who punched home his 15th of the season for the equalizer.

Mazzolini, Eric Bogunieck, and Imbeault scored against to lead off the shootout, meaning Doyle had to stop just one of Ontario's final three shooters. The first two scored, but Chad Starling's bid to force a sixth round hit the post and Alaska claimed its third victory in four games against Ontario (16-20-7) this season. The Aces out-shot the hosts, 34-32, over 65 minutes.

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