Aces salvage series finale in Ontario with Connolly's third period goal
March 22, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ONTARIO, Calif. - Brendan Connolly broke a 1-1 tie with 6:20 left in regulation, his career high 26th goal of the season, and Troy Redmann made 25 saves to boost the Alaska Aces to a 3-1 victory before an announced crowd of 9,395 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Saturday.
The Aces, salvaging a victory in the three game series, were aided with a first period goal from Greg Wolfe and Ryan Walters' empty netter with 10.3 seconds left. The victory allowed the Aces to keep pace at five points behind fourth place Utah, who defeated Bakersfield.
Wolfe opened the scoring at 17:39 of the first period, taking Connolly's centering pass on the tape and rocketing a one-timer from the slot, past Jussi Olkinuora's glove for his 18th goal of the season. Maxim Kitsyn responded with a wraparound attempt at 13:24 of the second period for a 1-1 tie.
Redmann halted Ontario's elevated attack after the goal and made a diving glove save on Judd Blackwater late in the period, keeping the tie intact before the third period. The Aces outshot Ontario, 12-8 in the last 20 minutes and earned the go-ahead goal after a squandered opportunity off the rush.
Dean Chelios, battling Zach Bell for a loose puck at the left circle, threw it back to the open point and Evan Renwick hammered a shot to the net that Connolly deflected past Olkinuora with a screen, restoring the lead at 2-1.
Ontario's biggest threat came in the last two minutes and Redmann turned away Blackwater's attempt to pick the corner from the right circle. Then, Francis converted a face-off win with 20 seconds left to a rimmed puck at the left boards, deflected out by Corey Syvret to an open Walters at center ice. Walters buried the empty netter for a 3-1 lead.
Olkinuora made 23 saves to take the loss.
ECHL Stories from March 22, 2015
- 'Blades Earn Point in 2-1 Shootout Loss at Toledo - Florida Everblades
- Mavericks Edged by Empty-Net Goals in Fort Wayne - Kansas City Mavericks
- Oilers' Streak Halted in Lopsided Loss to Americans - Tulsa Oilers
- Royals Clinch Playoff Berth with Win in Brampton, 8-3 - Reading Royals
- Beast Fall to Royals - Brampton Beast
- ECHL Transactions - March 22 - ECHL
- Stingrays Weekly: Stingrays Take Winning Streak on Season-High Seven Game Road Trip - South Carolina Stingrays
- Dieude-Fauvel Returns to Iowa Wild - Quad City Mallards
- Help the Beast Stick It to Cancer on April 11 - Brampton Beast
- ECHL Today - March 22 - ECHL
- The Royal Road Ahead: Reading Royals at Brampton Beast - Reading Royals
- Aces salvage series finale in Ontario with Connolly's third period goal - Alaska Aces
- PAIR OF GOALS POWER RUSH TO SECOND - Rapid City Rush
- Eagles Take Steelheads to Overtime, Fall 3-2 - Colorado Eagles
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
