Aces rally with two goals in third period, fall in shootout

April 10, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - Nick Mazzolini and Peter Sivak helped the Alaska Aces (44-19-7, 95 points) rally from a two goal deficit in the third period but Dustin Butler's stop on Jordan Morrison in the eighth round helped the Colorado Eagles send the Aces to a 5-4 shootout defeat at Budweiser Events Center on Wednesday.

Mazzolini tied his season high with four points while Andy Taranto also chipped in with a first period goal on the game's first shot. Gerald Coleman, returning to action after missing since Mar. 22 due to injury, produced 20 saves including six of eight stops in the shootout.

Taranto converted a redirection from Mazzolini at the inside of the left circle just 18 seconds into the game for his 12th goal of the season. But Brock Nixon drew Colorado to a 1-1 tie with a power play goal at 3:02 and Trent Daavettila broke a 12-game goal scoring drought with 3:35 left when he muscled a loose puck by Coleman's stick for a 2-1 Eagles lead.

Mark Nemec's fifth goal boosted Colorado's lead to 3-1 at 8:41 of the second period when he converted Kyle Kramer's feed at the right circle and into a half-open net.

Mazzolini's 24th goal of the year sliced the deficit to a goal just 1:09 later when he stripped Paul Phillips at the Colorado blueline and beat Butler with a wrister from the left circle.

A potentially game changing save came inside the final minute of the second period when Coleman's pads stopped Daavettila on a shorthanded break. But Nixon's second goal of the game extended the Eagles lead to 4-2 at 4:34 of the third when he finished Alex Hudson's centering attempt with a backhander from the slot.

Mazzolini scored again at 11:37, on a redirection set up by Trupp at the right circle, and the Aces were sparked with momentum and 16 shots in the third period. After two near misses by Mazzolini on a threatening shift late in the third period, Sivak converted a backhander from the right circle, tying the game with 1:26 left in regulation.

After a scoreless overtime, Kyle Ostrow scored in the third round of the shootout and Tyler Mosienko kept the game alive on a fifth round backhander under the crossbar. But after two misses by Andy Taranto (forehand) and Brett Findlay in the next two rounds, Riley Nelson's eighth round goal was followed by Butler's stop on a Jordan Morrison slap shot to seal the game.

Butler earned the win with 27 saves.

NOTES: The Aces scratched Brendan Connolly, Dustin Molle, Mathew Sisca, Eli Zuck, David Eddy, Tommy Mele, and John Ramage ... the Aces moved their record to 3-4-1 against Colorado and are now 5-1-2 on the ten game road trip to end the regular season ... Mazzolini has collected 29 points in 27 career games against Colorado.

With the Aces inching closer to their fourth straight Brabham Cup, the two teams meet in a rematch at 5:05 pm (KFQD) on Friday at Bu dweiser 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. COL - R. Nelson

2. COL - B. Nixon

3. COL - M. Nemec



ECHL Stories from April 10, 2014


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