Looks like the Alaska Aces will have first-line center and leading scorer Nick Mazzolini back in the lineup for a two-game weekend road series in Las Vegas.

Mazzolini, who missed the last two games with an upper-body injury, practiced with the club this morning, so he should accompany it out of town when it travels on Thursday ahead of games Friday and Saturday nights in Sin City.

Mazzolini leads the Aces in goals and points with 24-19--43 totals in 44 games, and also leads them in power-play strikes (8) and shots on goal (124).

His return will be welcomed -- he skated with wingers Chris Clackson and Garry Nunn today -- and will help the power play. He kills penalties too.

In other Aces news, the club today released forward Samson Mahbod, who had two assists in four games. Based on what The Blog saw at practice today, Alaska still has 11 forwards.