About this Alaska Aces-Utah Grizzlies playoff series, defined in earlier games by the brilliance of Aces goaltender Jean-Philippe Lamoureux: That other guy wearing a mask is running pretty hot too. Overshadowed by Lamoureux's back-to-back shutouts in Games 1 and 2, Utah's Michael Mole took a turn in the spotlight Wednesday night, stopping 30 shots in the Grizzlies' 3-2 overtime win in Game 3 at The E-Center in West Valley City, Utah.

Mole made a stunning glove save on Josh Soares' point-blank, power-play bid late in regulation and stoned Vladimir Novak early in OT. Those snuff jobs set the stage for Brett Beauchamp's game-winning strike 3 minutes, 30 seconds into sudden death.

And with the rookie's first pro goal and Mole's redemptive postseason turn -- Alaska torched him regularly in the regular season -- the Grizzlies have made a series of the ECHL West Division semifinals. The Aces, who won Games 1 and 2 by 2-0 counts, own a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-7 series heading into Game 4 Friday night in Utah.

Utah's win also means Game 5 will be played Saturday night at The E-Center.

Beauchamp scored off the rush on a drive from atop the left-wing circle after Tyler Wooddissee left him a drop pass. Former Aces winger Bo Cheesman, initially credited with a deflection goal on the play, also assisted on the winner.

The goal marked the first time in the series Utah has led a game.

Even so, Lamoureux, the league's Goaltender of the Year, stopped 40 shots to leave him with a 0.98 goals-against average and .970 save percentage in the postseason. He entered the evening having shut out the Grizzlies in four straight games -- two in this series and two in the regular season.

Of course, Mole has been magnificent too, in the series, as evidenced by his 2.00 goals-against average and .945 save percentage.

"The goaltenders are definitely feeding off each other,'' Aces coach Keith McCambridge said by cell phone.

Soares seemingly had the potential game-winning goal on his stick blade during an Aces power play in the waning minutes of regulation. Stationed just off the right post, Soares took a cross-crease feed from Lance Galbraith and fired quickly, but Mole ranged across his crease, diving and sprawling to seize the puck in his glove.

The only goals Mole surrendered came on exquisite plays. Matt Stefanishion scored on a backhander in the second period. He took a centering pass from defenseman T.J. Fast, faked a forehand and steered the backhander home as Mole dealt with traffic from Aces winger Cam Keith. Aces defenseman Matt Shasby scored off the rush 12 minutes into the third period after lugging the puck up ice and dishing to Colin Hemingway, who dished to Keith, who fed Shasby for a back-door tap-in.

Each time the Aces scored in regulation, though, the Grizzlies countered with strikes from Vladimir Nikiforov borne of screens that made things difficult for Lamoureux.

Nikiforov's wrister from the right wing late in the second period, aided by James Sixsmith's screen, forged a 1-1 tie. It also snapped Lamoureux's remarkable shutout streak against Utah at 280:27, the equivalent of four regulation-length games and two periods.

Nikiforov's second tying goal, a deflection of Mike Walsh's drive into traffic, came off a face-off three minutes after Shasby's goal.

"They had a lot of traffic in front of him,'' McCambridge said of Lamoureux. "That's obviously an objective of theirs.''

Utah also continued to stymie the Aces' power play, which was scoreless in four chances and has converted once in 15 opportunities in the series. Still, the Aces burned off all three Grizzlies power plays Wednesday and have killed all 11 in the series.

McCambridge made two lineup changes Wednesday, inserting defensemen T.J. Fast and Tyson Marsh -- both just came to the club from the American Hockey League -- and sitting out Corbin Schmidt and Nick Tuzzolino.

"Nothing against the way (Schmidt and Tuzzolino) were playing, it's just that you have two American League guys coming down,'' McCambridge said. "It's nice to have that problem, and everybody gets their chance eventually.''

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

Aces 0 1 1 0 -- 2

Utah 0 1 1 1 -- 3

First Period -- None. Penalties -- Burt, Aces (goaltender interference), 1:52; Brooks, Utah (delay of game, puck over glass), 9:49; Sixsmith, Utah (roughing), 16:21; Martin, Aces (roughing), 16:21; Erickson, Aces (delay of game, puck over glass), 19:57.

Second Period -- 1, Aces, Stefanishion 1 (Fast), 8:08; 2, Utah, Nikiforov 1 (Walsh, Sixsmith), 16:10. Penalties -- Beauchamp, Utah (slashing), 3:44; Hart, Utah (cross-checking, roughing), 18:43; Stefanishion, Aces (roughing), 18:43; Cheesman, Utah (roughing), 18:43; Marsh, Aces (roughing), 18:43.

Third Period -- 3, Aces, Shasby 1 (Keith, C. Hemingway), 11:57; 4, Utah, Nikiforov 2 (Walsh, Sertich), 14:57. Penalties -- Verbeek, Utah (roughing), 15:53; Shasby, Aces (high-sticking), 18:07.

Overtime -- 5, Utah, Beauchamp 1 (Wooddissee, Cheesman), 3:30. Penalties -- None.

Shots on goal -- Aces 4-12-12-4--32. Utah 12-17-12-2--43.

Power-play Opportunities -- Aces 0 of 4; Utah 0 of 3.

Goalies -- Aces, Lamoureux 2-1 (43 shots-40 saves). Utah, Mole 1-2 (32-30).

A -- 2,437 (10,200). T -- 2:42.

Referee -- Jarrod Ragusin. Linesmen -- Ed Henderson, Nolan Rein.

OT

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