Aces Settle For Point In Vegas

Published on March 19, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


LAS VEGAS - Despite a hat trick by Bryan Miller and leads of 3-0, 5-2, 6-3, and 7-4, the Alaska Aces gained only a point in an eventual 8-7 overtime loss to Las Vegas before 4,339 Thursday at Orleans Arena.

The Aces (29-26-8 overall) have lost each of their last four games that have gone extra time and remain winless in their last five outings on the road. Meanwhile, the Wranglers have won five straight home games and have scored 25 goals in their last four contests. Alaska and Vegas meet again tomorrow and Saturday night at 6:00 p.m., with live Peanut Farm Pre-Game Show coverage on KFQD 750 AM beginning at 5:45. The Aces are 5-2-2 against the Wranglers this season and hold a 12-9 edge in points head-to-head.

Alaska raced to a 3-0 lead and chased Las Vegas starter Jimmy Spratt after barely 11 minutes on a pair of power play goals and in a four-on-four situation. Miller scored the first of his three power play tallies at 5:30, followed two minutes later by Curtis Fraser, making his return to the Aces lineup after a 45-game absence. When Nick Mazzolini buried his 23rd of the year from the top of the left circle on a wrist shot, Joel Gistedt relieved Spratt.

The Wranglers responded with two goals before the end of the first period, a power play goal by Alex Bourret just 1:21 after the goalie switch and an even strength goal by defenseman Mike Madill from the high slot with 3:32 left in the frame. But a Vegas turnover undermined the comeback just 1:46 into the second period, as Jason Ryznar scored his first goal in 30 games dating to January 4 unassisted. Miller followed with a lengh-of-the-ice rush in a five-on-three situation and squeezed a wrister through Gistedt's pads, putting Alaska back in control at 5-2 at 5:35.

Less than a minute later, however, with the Aces still owning a five-on-four power play, Josh Prudden tucked home his own rebound for a shorthanded goal that cut the gap to 5-3. Eric Boguniecki answered with his 19th goal of the year at 8:10 of the middle frame, and though Chris Neiszner scored the first of his two goals to slice the advantage to 6-4, Miller completed his hat trick with yet another power play goal 1:31 before the break, leaving Alaska with a three-goal cushion and only 20 minutes separating the club from its first road win since February 13.

Neiszner gave the hosts hope just 45 seconds into the final period with his second goal of the night, and Adam Miller triggered the game's final surge with the first of his two goals at 8:55, trimming the Aces advantage to 7-6. Miller scored the equalizer off the rush with 3:58 left in regulation, and set up Craig Switzer off the rush for the game-winner just 55 seconds into overtime. Alaska goaltender Scott Reid finished with 25 saves in a game that saw his team match its season-best of seven goals, but surrender eight for the first time since February 1, 2008.

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