Alaska doubles up on Colorado
Published on March 16, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Sean Curry's goal in the third period stood as the game winner and Connor Knapp made 24 saves for his second win in as many nights, boosting the Alaska Aces (39-17-5, 83 points) to a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Eagles before 5,860 fans at Sullivan Arena on Saturday.
The Aces, who claimed four points in the "three-in-three" series against their Mountain Division rival, ended the regular season home schedule with 26 wins (1st, ECHL) which equaled their output of their most recent Kelly Cup championship squad in 2010-11. Brett Findlay and Jordan Morrison led the Aces offense with a goal and an assist each.
Peter Sivak put the Aces ahead 1-0, 1:27 into the game when he finished a highlight reel set-up by Tyler Mosienko, who zipped a pass behind his back to Nick Mazzolini, who re-directed it to Sivak in the slot.
Findlay boosted the lead to 2-0 at 16:08 of the second period, finishing Jordan Morrison's centering bid from the right boards, seconds after a thunderous collision into the right corner which eliminated Jesse Mychan from the play. Findlay was wide open between the circles, drove the net and beat Dustin Butler through the five-hole.
Kevin Ulanski drew the Eagles to within a goal just a minute into the third period on a major power play, after chaos broke out at center ice (resulting in Drew MacKenzie's ejection for spearing) following the Findlay goal. But Curry finished a tape-to-tape feed by Findlay at the right circle, glove side on Butler, for a 3-1 lead at 8:34 of the final period.
Greg Gardner slammed a one-timer past Knapp from the right circle to cut the lead to 3-2 with 4:40 left in regulation after the Aces failed to clear their zone. But as Colorado put in a bid to tie the game in the final minute, Jordan Morrison carried the puck up the right wing and stashed a backhander from the center ice red line for an empty net goal and 4-2 lead, with 12.4 seconds left.
Butler took the loss on 29 saves.
ECHL Stories from March 16, 2014
- Escobedo's Two Goals Not Enough to Beat Las Vegas - Stockton Thunder
- Wranglers Fly by Thunder on Road, 3-2 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Royals Fall in Overtime to Wheeling, 3-2 - Reading Royals
- Stevenson's OT Winner Completes Six-Point Week - Wheeling Nailers
- Ostrow Receives Call-Up to AHL's Abbotsford Heat - Colorado Eagles
- Road Warriors Lose Close Game to Stingrays 2-1 - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- York Backstops Stingrays over Road Warriors; Lavin Recalled to Providence - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Transactions - March 16 - ECHL
- Game Preview - Ontario Reign vs. Idaho Steelheads - Ontario Reign
- Nailers at Royals Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- Thunder Host Las Vegas for First Time - Stockton Thunder
- Game Preview: Road Warriors vs. Stingrays Sunday, March 16, 2014 - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Olkinuora Heads to St. John's Following Hutchinson Recall - Ontario Reign
- Penguins Assign Hartzell to Nailers - Wheeling Nailers
- ECHL Today - March 16 - ECHL
- Alaska doubles up on Colorado - Alaska Aces
- Thunder Offense Stalls, Falls to Utah 4-1 - Stockton Thunder
- Third Period Dooms Condors in Loss to Steelheads - Bakersfield Condors
- Eagles Defeated by Aces 4-2 - Colorado Eagles
- Grizzlies Win 4-1 in Stockton - Utah Grizzlies
- Third-Period Explosion Lifts Idaho Past Bakersfield - Idaho Steelheads
- Royals Win Sixth Straight at Santander Arena, 4-0 - Reading Royals
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.
