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Ontario survives Aces two goal comeback in series opener

December 28, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Michael Hutchinson made 37 saves including 13 in the third period to help the Ontario Reign fend off the Alaska Aces, 4-2 before 4,492 at Sullivan Arena on Friday.

The two teams, entering the game separated by seven points for the top record in the ECHL, met for the first time all season and the Aces erased a 2-0 deficit with back to back goals late in the second and early in the third period (Tim Coffman and Nick Mazzolini). Jake Hauswirth earned the eventual game-winner and Ontario snapped the Aces (17-8-1, 35 points) five game home winning streak.

The Aces hammered away at Hutchinson but were unable to get anything by in the opening 20 minutes on a series of screens and re-directions at the net. Ontario broke the scoreless tie on Mike Towns' fourth goal of the season, capitalizing on a screen from Art Bidlevskii's point shot, with 3:27 left in the first period.

Mario Lamoureux then put the Aces in a 2-0 hole just 42 seconds into the second when he buried a one-timer from the between the circles, set up from behind the net by Matthew White after Olivier Roy gave the puck away in the trapezoid.

The Aces went to work and finally got on the board with 2:40 left in the second period on a nifty goal by Tim Coffman (6th of the season), who toe-dragged around the Ontario defense and beat Hutchinson off the rush from the right circle.

Just 12 seconds into the third period, Nick Mazzolini tied the game when he made Hutchinson pay for a mistake behind the Ontario net. Hutchinson turned the puck over to Mazzolini, who swooped in to apply pressure. Mazzolini tucked a wraparound bid inside the right post for his ninth goal of the season which sent Sullivan Arena into pandemonium.

Jordan Kremyr and Peter Sivak then earned terrific looks at the Ontario net, but Kremyr misfired on the shoulder of Hutchinson and Sivak had to deal with a rolling puck while left all alone at the right circle before Hutchinson squared up to the shot.

Jake Hauswirth put Ontario back in the lead, 3-2 at 10:09 when he snuck a wrister past Roy's blocker from the base of the right circle after the Aces failed to clear the zone following several battles along the left boards.

The best chance to tie the game came when Tom Mele was set up between the circles with less than five minutes left, but his one-timer was turned away by Hutchinson's blocker. The Aces pulled Roy for an extra attacker in the final minute but after several chances at the Reign net, Everett Sheen put the game away with 8.3 seconds left on his empty net goal.

Roy made 18 saves while taking the loss.

NOTES: The Aces scratched Zach Davies, Sean Curry, Andy Taranto, Corey Syvret, Ben Parker and Brendan Connolly ... both teams came up empty on two power play chances ... Coffman's goal broke an 11-game goal scoring drought ... Mazzolini extended his scoring streak to six straight games ... Ontario played the game with just 14 healthy skaters.

Both teams return for a rematch tomorrow at 7:15 p.m. (GCI Channel 1/KFQD) at Sullivan Arena. Season ticket and sponsorship packages are currently available through the Aces office at 15th & Gambell. For more information, please call the Aces at 907.258.ACES or visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey.

Three Stars:

1. ONT - J. Hauswirth

2. AK - T. Coffman

3. ONT - M. Hutchinson

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