Aces victorious opening Hockey Heritage Weekend, top line posts 10 points

February 8, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Peter Sivak racked up four points and the Alaska Aces (28-11-3, 59 points) used three unanswered goals to defeat the Stockton Thunder, 4-2 before a crowd of 4,925 at Sullivan Arena on Friday, opening ECHL Hockey Heritage Weekend.

The Aces, playing before the newly elected Hall of Fame class and the Stanley Cup, wore Calgary Flames inspired jerseys while their top line of Sivak, Nick Mazzolini and Brendan Connolly factored in every goal, combining for 10 points. Gerald Coleman made 18 saves for his fifth victory in seven games.

Stockton's J.P. Burkemper stashed a rebound off an Alex MacLeod shot from the slot for the game's first goal at 7:16 of the first period, but the Aces answered on the next shift, 23 seconds later when Connolly tapped Nick Mazzolini's backdoor feed around Brian Foster's toe for a 1-1 tie.

Connolly then hammered a one timer from the right circle past Foster, for his second of the game, with 1:31 left in the first period for a 2-1 edge.

The Aces continued to pressure in the second period and cranked 12 shots on goal, one which found the back of the net courtesy a Mazzolini one-timer. Connolly centered the puck to Mazzolini from the left circle, who blistered his 14th goal over Foster for a 3-1 lead with 6:44 elapsed.

Joey Martin got Stockton back into the game at 9:38 when he drove wide of the net and put a deflection into it, off the back of Coleman.

The Aces thwarted Stockton's last gasp in the final minute, and a Mazzlolini clearing pass hit Peter Sivak for an empty net goal with 11 seconds left for a 4-2 lead.

Foster took the loss with 33 stops.



ECHL Stories from February 8, 2014


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