Taranto, Morrison strike for Aces' third period comeback win
February 23, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Back to back goals by Andy Taranto and Jordan Morrison lifted the Alaska Aces (34-15-3, 71 points) in a third period rally, defeating the Ontario Reign 3-2, in a battle between the top two ECHL teams before a crowd of 5,530 at Sullivan Arena on Saturday.
The Aces, who earned their second comeback win this season when trailing after two periods, finished the regular season series at 4-4-0 while ending a stretch of 11 games in 16 days at 7-4-0. Nick Mazzolini paced the Aces offense with a pair of assists while Brendan Connolly earned a second period goal.
Alex Kangas, making his first start at Sullivan Arena since Jan. 4, earned his first win with the Aces on 28 saves.
Following a scoreless first period, the Aces roared out of the gates with a Brendan Connolly breakaway, whose backhander missed off the post. Ontario launched a counterattack and Cameron Burt found Maxim Kitsyn open at the right post, converting a redirection for a 1-0 lead at 1:12.
Connolly was vindicated with his 16th goal from the left circle at 5:43 for a 1-1 tie, finishing Mazzolini's cross ice feed while picking the corner on Ontario goaltender Jussi Olkinuora.
Adrian Van de Mosselaer's second goal of the season restored Ontario's lead to 2-1 with 5:35 left in the period when he stashed Maxim Kitsyn's feed under the crossbar, from the base of the right circle.
The Aces earned late power play in the period which carried over into the third, and struck in residual effect after it expired. Taranto took Morrison's feed and fired a rocket past Olkinuora from the slot just 35 seconds into the final period, leveling the game at 2-2.
Connolly was handed an interference penalty for contact away from the puck at the team benches, and Ontario threatened to restore the lead late in regulation. But Mazzolini took off for an outnumbered attack, and snuck a backdoor saucer pass over a fallen Burt, to Morrison from the right circle.
Morrison tapped the redirection past Olkinuora's blocker side for a 3-2 lead with 5:35 left in regulation, sending Sullivan Arena into bedlam.
Olkinuora was pulled for the extra attacker and Ontario threatened with several set ups at the blueline which missed wide or were kicked away by Kangas. A final clearing attempt by Peter Sivak sealed the game and the Aces' grip on the top win percentage in the ECHL.
Olkinuora took the loss on 31 saves.
NOTES: The Aces scratched Dustin Molle, James Martin, Corey Syvret, Tim Coffman, Ross Ring-Jarvi, Jordan Kremyr, Eli Zuck, and David Eddy ... Phillip Ischi returned to the Aces lineup after signing with the team earlier in the afternoon and posted a shot on goal ... the Aces outshot Ontario, 34-30 ... Morrison also posted a goal and an assist ... Mazzolini's multi point game boosted his offensive run to 19 points in 13 games.
The Aces return to play on Wednesday, Feb. 26 in a 5:10 pm (KFQD) game against the host Idaho Steelheads. 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.
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