Aces best Grizzlies 4-1

The Aces' 4-1 victory over the Utah Grizzlies at Sullivan Arena not only extended the ECHL leaders' streak of hockey games without a loss in regulation to eight, but also marked the 21st time in the last 22 games they have earned at least a point.

Alaska (24-5-5) is 5-0-3 during its point streak and has gone 16-1-5 since Nov. 13.

Still, neither the final score nor the Aces' overwhelming advantage in shots on goal -- 41-18 -- proved indicative of the battle the Grizzlies put up.

The Aces led 2-0 just 12 minutes into the game, and the 2-1 lead they took out of the first period held until less than four minutes remained in the opener of a three-game set with Utah (15-14-3).

Victory wasn't secure until defenseman Chad Anderson racked his first goal of the season with 3:25 left -- his wrist shot from the center point was aided by a Garry Nunn screen -- and furnished a 3-1 lead. Zach Harrison added an empty-net, short-handed goal to clinch the win.

Utah's strong penalty-killing thwarted an Aces power play that last four continuous minutes in the second period and also stymied an Aces two-man advantage that lasted 58 seconds early in the third period. And Grizzlies goaltender Andrew Engelage, back from injury and playing for the first time since Dec. 14, proved exceptional in making 37 saves.

And the Aces, who improved to 18-3-0 on home ice, were clearly off their game, which lacked crispness and alacrity.

"It was a bit disjointed,'' said Aces center Nick Mazzolini, who furnished two assists. "There were some passes to no one. But we just have to learn from it, screw our heads on straight and be better (tonight).''

Anderson said the Aces were quite aware they weren't sharp.

"Luckily, we were able to pull it together,'' he said. "But games like that catch up to you. That's not us. We've got to get back to work and we know it.''

A play that would have delivered the Aces some cushion with about seven minutes to go illustrated their struggles. Jordan Kremyr fired a shot that Tyler Ruegsegger deflected off the crossbar. Everyone on the ice appeared to lose sight of the puck, which ricocheted into the air -- everyone except for Kremyr, who was stationed to Engelage's right. Kremyr, who scored a first-period goal, gloved the puck, dropped it to the ice and fired it toward the open net -- and off the left post.

"Unfortunate,'' Kremyr said.

For a stretch of the third period, the Aces were without winger Dan Kissel and center Ethan Cox. Kissel, who scored in the first period, missed some time getting eight stitches to his chin after taking a stick to the face. Cox, who missed most of the third period, required many stitches to mend his upper lip after taking a stick.

The Grizzlies know something about being short-handed. They played with the maximum 16 skaters for the first time in 10 games, but only because they signed four locals for the match -- forwards Merit Waldrop and Moises Gutierrez, and defensemen Erik Felde and Sam Tikka.

"Those guys can all play,'' said Utah captain Nick Tuzzolino, the former Aces defenseman. "It's not like we're picking up scrubs.''

Still, the Grizzlies, who have seven injured players, down from a season-high of 11 recently, are 2-8-2 in their last 12 games.

"Right now, it's just a funk, and we've got to get out of it,'' Tuzzolino said.

The Aces jumped to their 2-0 lead when Kissel backhanded defenseman Bryan Miller's power-play rebound between Engelage's pads 2:05 into the game for his team-leading 19th goal. Kremyr made it 2-0 just 10 minutes later when he deflected Miller's shot, but Utah's Mitch Fadden closed the gap to 2-1 with his power-play wrister, aided by a Gutierrez screen, in the final minute of the first period.

That score held until late, when Anderson delivered some breathing room.

"We know we squeaked one out tonight,'' Kremyr said, "and we'll be better.''

Shuffling the deck

Aces goaltender Adam Courchaine, who stopped 17 shots, has not lost in regulation in his last 12 starts (9-0-3).

Kissel's goal extended his point streak to eight games. Ditto for Wes Goldie, who assisted on Kissel's goal.

Kissel's 19 goals tie him for second in the league.

Miller's two assists came in his 300th ECHL game. The veteran blueliner owns 5-21--26 totals in 34 games, placing him third among league defensemen in points and first in assists.

Kremyr owns a five-game point streak.

The Aces are 18-0-0 when leading after one period.

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Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.

Utah 1 0 0 -- 1

Aces 2 0 2 -- 4

First Period -- 1, Aces, Kissel 19 (Miller, Goldie), 2:05 (pp); 2, Aces, Kremyr 7 (Miller, Mazzolini), 12:02; 3, Utah, Fadden 10 (Tuzzolino), 19:54 (pp). Penalties -- MacMillan, Utah (slashing), 1:28; Ambroz, Aces (tripping), 12:30; Ward, Aces (roughing), 19:45.

Second Period -- None. Penalties -- Felde, Utah, double-minor (hooking, holding), 9:49; Nunn, Aces (roughing), 11:57; Kremyr, Aces (roughing), 11:57; McIlveen, Utah (roughing), 11:57; Sorteberg, Utah (roughing), 11:57; Tuzzolini, Utah (interference), 19:14.

Third Period -- 4, Aces, Anderson 1 (Mazzolini, Kremyr), 16:35; 5, Aces, Harrison 3 (Lafranchise), 18:57 (sh-en). Penalties -- Donovan, Utah (interference), :16; Ambroz, Aces (holding), 2:56; Sorteberg, Utah (slashing), 9:23; Aces bench minor, served by Mazzolini (too many men), 10:27; Fadden, Utah (boarding), 10:51; Ward, Aces (cross-checking), 17:21; Severyn, Utah, misconduct (unsportsmanlike conduct), 18:57; Emmerson, Utah (elbowing), 19;16.

Shots on goal -- Utah 10-4-4--18. Aces 14-14-13--41.

Power-play Opportunities -- Utah 1 of 4. Aces 1 of 8.

Goalies -- Utah, Engelage, 10-9-1 (40 shots-37 saves). Aces, Courchaine, 9-1-3 (18-17).

A -- 3,199 (6,399). T -- 2:26.

Referee -- J.M. McNulty. Linesmen -- Steve Glines, Travis Jackson.