Perfetto, Moynihan Save Aces Bacon in 5-4 OT Win at Colorado

March 10, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


LOVELAND, COLORADO - Stephen Perfetto banged home the game-tying goal with 1.2 seconds to go, and Danny Moynihan was the overtime hero, as the Alaska Aces upended the Colorado Eagles 5-4 Wednesday at the Budweiser Events Center.

The win keeps Alaska three points ahead of fifth-place Utah in the Mountain Division.

An evenly-played first period saw the Aces draw first blood on Charlie Sampair's first professional goal. A turnover deep in the Eagles zone put the puck on Sampair's stick in front of the Colorado net. Sampair scooped a backhander past Eagles netminder Clarke Saunders at 8:05, unassisted.

Shots after one period favored Alaska 17-7.

Alaska took a 2-0 lead at 2:55 of the second period. Tim Wallace danced to the front of the Colorado net from the right corner. Saunders made the save on Wallace, but Tyler Shattock was there to bang in the rebound for his 11th goal of the season. Tim Coffman also captured an assist, running his point streak to 10 games.

The Eagles answered with some push-back at 4:16. Julian Nantel, playing in his first game after assignment from AHL San Antonio, scored off assists from Matt Register and Luke Salazar.

The Aces were not done in the period. Stephen Perfetto scored his 26th goal of the season from just inside the right circle, sending the puck through a crowd and into the net at 16:42.

Pavel Laplante received the lone assist on Perfetto's goal.

Shots after two: Alaska 31, Colorado 21.

The third period started badly for the Aces, then got worse. At the 44 second mark, Sam Jardine scored for Colorado, making it 3-2 Alaska, then Nantel struck again at 8:01 on the power play to tie it up at 3-3, followed by Matt Register's goal at 14:27 to give the Eagles a 4-3 lead.

Late in the period, the Aces pulled goaltender Kevin Carr and pressed the issue in the Colorado zone. Stephen Perfetto settled a bouncing puck just inside the right circle and blasted it home with just 1.2 seconds remaining in regulation...Perfetto's 26th goal of the season from Coffman and Nolan Descoteaux.

Both teams had great opportunities in the overtime, but it was the Aces that cashed in. After Mitch Jones fired the puck into the right corner, Moynihan took it, made his way to the slot and ran the puck through traffic into the net for his 20th goal to give Alaska the win and the two points that came with it.

Perfetto and Moynihan's heroics saved the Aces from a loss that would have stung big time, as Alaska had two 2-goal leads in the game.

Final shots were 43-36 Alaska.

The Aces were 0-2 on the power play, while Colorado was 1-4.

The Aces will now travel to Rapid City, South Dakota for a two-game set with the Rush Friday and Saturday at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.



ECHL Stories from March 10, 2017


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