Aces' Streaks Continue with 4-1 Win over Reign

Published on January 12, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


Nick Mazzolini scored two goals and added an assist, and Mark Guggenberger made 23 saves on 24 shots as the Alaska Aces beat the Ontario Reign 4-1 at Sullivan Arena on Friday night in front of 4,944 fans. The Aces extended their home winning streak to eight games, and their point streak to 13 games (12-0-1), tying for the second longest in club history. Alaska leads the ECHL with a 30-8-1 record. The game marked the first time this season that the Aces and Reign did not play a one-goal game. The Aces and Reign remain in Alaska for Saturday's series finale. Tickets are on sale now at the Aces office, Sullivan Arena box office, Fred Meyer Locations and online at www.ticketmaster.com. All Aces games can be heard on NewsTalk 103.7FM and 750AM KFQD. For more information, please contact the Aces office at 907.258.ACES, or visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey.

Playing the fourth straight game against one another, the bad blood between the Aces and Reign was evident from the opening shift. Several big hits and altercations behind the play highlighted the opening five minutes. Alaska captain Steve Ward and Ontario's Jacques Lamoureux dropped the gloves 4:06 into the game. The temperament escalated at 7:10 when Chris Clackson was whistled for a five-minute major for cross checking. While Ontario's Jason Beeman squared off to fight Clackson, Reign forward Chris Cloud jumped onto Clackson. While he had Clackson down, Beeman delivered a punch to the midsection of Clackson, and Alaska's Dustin Molle jumped into the fray and began to fight Beeman. When the dust settled, Clackson and Molle were ejected along with Beeman, and Ontario received a five-minute major power play. Alaska killed off the penalty, and then on a different penalty kill, they scored the first goal of the game in the final minute of the frame. William Wrenn sprung Nick Mazzolini on a shorthanded breakaway and Mazzolini deked past Dustin Carlson to score his 21st goal of the year. The Aces took a 1-0 lead into the locker rooms, scoring first for the 11th time in the last 12 games. Both teams had six shots in the opening period.

The Aces added a pair of goals in the second period to extend their lead. Mazzolini scored his second of the night on a power play at 8:25 after Carlson misplayed the puck behind his net. Carlson tried to pass the puck from the trapezoid, but put it right on Mazzolini's stick from the right circle, where he buried a wrist shot into the empty cage. Zach Harrison then scored his career-high ninth goal of the year on a two-on-one at 15:37 to give the Aces a 3-0 lead through two periods. For the second straight frame, both clubs tallied six shots on goal.

Ontario pulled Carlson to start the third and replaced him with local product Drew O'Connell, who was an emergency signee, due to two goaltender call-ups to the AHL earlier this week. Guggenberger lost his shutout with 3:38 to play when Mario Lamoureux scored off a scramble in the crease, but it was too late to mount a comeback. Mazzolini passed up a shot at a hat trick, when he fed a puck to Jordan Kremyr with an empty net at 17:47 and Kremyr scored his first of the year in his return to the lineup after missing 24 straight games due to injury.

Mark Guggenberger (15-5-1) earned the win, making 23 saves on 24 shots. Dustin Carlson (0-1-1) made 9 saves on 12 shots through two periods and took the loss. O'Connell stopped all six shots he faced and did not figure into the decision. The Aces went 1-3 on the power play and the Reign were 0-5. Alaska was outshot by Ontario 24-18 in the game.

The Aces and Reign remain in Alaska for Saturday's series finale. Tickets are on sale now at the Aces office, Sullivan Arena box office, Fred Meyer Locations and online at www.ticketmaster.com. All Aces games can be heard on NewsTalk 103.7FM and 750AM KFQD. For more information, please contact the Aces office at 907.258.ACES, or visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey.



ECHL Stories from January 12, 2013


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