Late Aces comeback stymied by the buzzer, Howe's 41 stops
Published on December 11, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - Joe Howe made 41 saves, including 20 in the second period and the Alaska Aces were denied by the final horn on a game-tying chance, dropping a 4-3 defeat to the Utah Grizzlies at Maverik Center on Wednesday.
The Aces, bidding for an extra attacker goal in the final seconds, were denied when an apparent Olivier Archambault goal, with no time left, was turned away after his backhander appeared to fall short in beating the final horn. Utah took the first meeting of the season between both teams, while Greg Wolfe furnished a two-goal game and Tim Coffman added a pair of assists.
Utah started fast, collecting two goals on their first four shots and three goals in nearly the first ten minutes. Mathieu Aubin fired a slapshot from the right circle just 1:53 into the game, on Utah's first shot f or a 1-0 lead. Aubin then found Jacob Johnston high in the slot, who hammered a one timer for a 2-0 edge at 4:25.
The Aces threatened to break into the lead but Joe Howe made successive saves on Bryan Cameron to preserve the score, including Cameron's bid from between the circles after snagging a feed from Danick Paquette.
H.T. Lenz's power play goal at 9:57 put the Aces in a 3-0 hole, threatening with deeper position after an interference penalty. But Aces special teams sparked their first goal of the game, on a Wolfe breakaway, at 14:45 to cut the gap to 3-1. Jacob Doty set up the play with a long, home-run backhanded feed through the middle of the ice that found Wolfe, on his tape.
The Aces outshot Utah, 21-4 in the second period and sliced the deficit to 3-2 on Wolfe's second goal of the game, a power play goal with 3:15 remaining. Wolfe and Coffman followed up a rebound off a point shot to the net, and Wolfe was credited for the rebound as the Aces jammed away in the crease.
A critical goal that stalled the Aces momentum, a point shot by Channing Boe, restored the Utah lead to 4-2 at 12:37 of the third period, after Lenz outmuscled his opponent and set up Boe just inside of the left blueline. The Aces came right back with a good look at the net and got back within a goal, at 4-3 when Tim Coffman won an offensive zone face-off at the right circle.
Richard hammered the face-off win with a one-timer under the crossbar on Howe with four minutes to play.
Lundstrom, who recovered to stop 12 of the final 13 shots he saw, was pulled for an extra attacker in the final minute of play as the Aces sustained heavy pressure in the offensive zone. Howe made a quick save on Archambault's rocket backhander from the right circle. With time winding down, Archambault found an open net at the base of the right circle. His backhander hit the back of the net, but time expired as Archambault released the shot.
Lundstrom stopped 19 saves in defeat.
NOTES: The Aces scratched Ryan Tesink, Dustin Molle, Raphael Bussieres (illness) and Tyler Currier ... Doty's assist was his first pro point ... Wolfe's first period goal broke a six-game goal-scoring drought ... the Aces fell to 2-2-0 on the six game road trip ... former Aces defenseman Patrick Wellar, who helped guide the club to their first Kelly Cup title in 2006, was behind the Utah defense as a player/assistant coach ... goaltender Aaron Crandall, signed on Wednesday as a free agent after Johan Gustafsson was recalled to Iowa (AHL), returned to the Aces to backup Lundstrom in the game.
The Aces move onto CenturyLink Arena to visit the Idaho Steelheads on Friday at 7:10 p.m. (KFQD/ECHL.TV).
For Kelly Cup championship merchandise, 2014-15 season tickets, corporate sponsorship packages, and more information, please call 907-258-ACES. The Aces can also be visited on Facebook at www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey.
Three Stars:
1. UTA - H. Lenz
2. UTA - J. Howe
3. UTA - M. Aubin
ECHL Stories from December 11, 2014
- Jackals Outdone in Orlando, 5-2 - Elmira Jackals
- Missiaen Backstops Warriors' Win over Cyclones - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Road Warriors Sneak Past Cyclones, 3-2 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Binghamton Sends Hobbs Back to Evansville - Evansville IceMen
- Nailers to Host Star Wars Night on January 24th, 2015 - Wheeling Nailers
- Stefishen Loaned to Texas - Elmira Jackals
- ECHL Transactions - December 11 - ECHL
- Game Preview - Ontario Reign at Bakersfield Condors - Ontario Reign
- Pistilli Returns to Komets - Fort Wayne Komets
- Anaheim Ducks Assign Goaltender Igor Bobkov to Grizzlies - Utah Grizzlies
- Davidson Debuts for Edmonton Oilers - Stockton Thunder
- Players Supporting Salvation Army this Tuesday - Wichita Thunder
- "Frozen Night" Headlines Warriors vs. Cyclones at 7:00 p.m. - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- D Ben Lindemulder Assigned to Bakersfield - Bakersfield Condors
- Cyclones Game Preview - Cincinnati at Greenville - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Jackals Finish Florida Road Trip Tonight in Orlando - Elmira Jackals
- Driedger Reassigned to IceMen - Evansville IceMen
- First NHL-Drafted Australian Nathan Walker and Forward Caleb Herbert Assigned to Stingrays - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - December 11 - ECHL
- Late Aces comeback stymied by the buzzer, Howe's 41 stops - Alaska Aces
- Reign Edged 3-2 in Overtime by Condors - Ontario Reign
- Connor Jones OT Winner Gives Condors 3-2 Decision - Bakersfield Condors
- Grizzlies Beat Alaska 4-3, with 1,000 Teddy Bears Flying - Utah Grizzlies
- Thunder Take Down Eagles 4-2 - Stockton Thunder
- Combs Scores Four Times to Lead Allen to 5-2 Win over Quad City - Allen Americans
- Eagles Suffer Tough 4-2 Loss to Thunder - Colorado Eagles
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.
