Alaska Takes Opener From Utah, 5-2
Published on March 4, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Darrell May scored the game-tying goal and added an assist in his professional debut, helping Alaska rally from an early 2-0 deficit to a 5-2 victory over Utah in front of 3,523 Wednesday at Sullivan Arena.
The Aces remain unbeaten in their last nine games at home dating to a 5-1 loss to the Grizzlies January 9. Alaska snapped a three-game losing streak and while extending Utah's skid to three. The Aces own a 5-2 record against the Grizzlies this year and clinched the season series with the win. The teams meet for the final time during the regular season tomorrow at 7:15 p.m., with live Peanut Farm Pre-Game show coverage getting underway at 7 p.m. on KFQD 750 AM.
Alaska looked like the same team that was blitzed in Boise last weekend (three straight losses by a combined 17-4) for the first 18 minutes of Wednesday's game, managing just three shots on goal and falling behind 2-0 on goals by Utah's A.J. Perry and Tony Romano. But a pass by May (who just completed his eligibility at the University of British Columbia) triggered a Scott Burt breakaway, and when the former Grizzly flipped a backhander over the right shoulder of starter Beau Erickson, the Aces suddenly came to life, almost tying the contest in the waning seconds of the period when Judd Blackwater twice failed to tuck home a loose puck in front of a vacant cage.
The equalizer eventually came when May tipped in a Jason Ryznar shot at 5:57 of the second period, Ryznar's first point in 24 games dating to January 4. Nick Mazzolini gave Alaska the lead for good three minutes later, knocking home a rebound of a Tyson Marsh drive from the point for his 20th goal of the season. Mazzolini set up Eric Boguniecki at 14:14 to increase the gap to 4-2 and chase Erickson, who departed having stopped just 13 of 17 shots. Mitch O'Keefe came on in relief and stopped all 20 shots he faced, but the damage had been done and the Aces rode their goalie, Scott Reid, the rest of the way, finally sealing victory on a Mazzolini empty-netter with 1:13 remaining.
Reid finished with 27 saves, having turned aside the last 22 shots he faced, to improved his record against the Grizzlies to 3-2 and improve his personal mark to 11-12-3. Alaska climbs back above.500 at 27-26-5 and into a tie with Utah for fifth place in the National Conference with 59 points, one behind Stockton. The Aces went 0-5 on the power play but erased all four chances for the Grizzlies, who entered with the league's best power play at 22.4%.
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