Mazzolini, Connolly combine for six points, Coleman stops 27 shots
January 26, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
LOVELAND, Colo. - Nick Mazzolini and Brendan Connolly each collected three points and Gerald Coleman made 27 saves to help lift the Alaska Aces (25-10-3, 53 points) to a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Eagles before 5,289 fans at Budweiser Events Center on Saturday.
The Aces, earning their first win of the season over Colorado and pushing their head-to-head lifetime record to 17-6-0, extended their lead to four points over the Eagles for first place in the Mountain Division. Sean Curry, returning from injury for his first game since October, buried a shorthanded goal in the second period.
Mazzolini hammered a one timer past Marc Cheverie, converting Connolly's centering pass from behind the net, just 2:23 into the game for a 1-0 edge.
Boosted by a pair of penalty kills and Coleman's seven stops, the Aces capitalized on sloppy coverage by Colorado for Curry's shorthanded goal just 62 seconds into the second period. Peter Sivak fed the puck into the slot for Curry, who unleashed a one-timer past Cheverie for his first goal for a 2-0 edge.
Just 17 seconds later, the Eagles found space at the front of the net and Alex Hudson buried a rebound to cut the deficit to 2-1 after Coleman stopped A.J. Hau from the left circle. Brock Nixon then threatened to tie the game late in the period but Coleman closed his five hole on Nixon's backhander.
Mazzolini boosted the Aces lead to 3-1 when he undressed the Colorado defense, threw a backhander on net and got a piece of the rebound in mid-air for his 13th goal at 3:40 of the third period.
Mazzolini then set up Connolly's empty net goal with 29.6 seconds left, on a clearing attempt to center ice.
Cheverie took the loss with 22 saves.
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