Florida Everblades Blank Alaska Aces 2-0 - ECHL

MLN Newswire - mlntherawfeed.com - ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Florida defensemen Dave Cornacchia and Franklin MacDonald scored 44 seconds apart midway through the second period, providing all the offense goalie Tyler Plante would need in a 2-0 shutout of Alaska in front of 5,133 Saturday at Sullivan Arena.

    The Aces had not been blanked since a 4-0 loss at home to Las Vegas exactly 50 weeks ago.  For most of the first period, Alaska looked sharp, dominating on the forecheck while keeping the 'Blades completely bottled up in their own end.  The Aces out-shot the visitors 10-2 in the early going, but with eight minutes to play in the frame, a hole in the plexiglass created a 10-minute delay, and home team never seemed to re-capture its rhythm.

    Cornacchia's goal came off the rush after an Alaska turnover at the other end, and a defensive miscue shortly thereafter left MacDonald wide open in the right circle, where he snapped a wrist shot just inside the left post at 8:48 of the second period.  Trailing 2-0, Aces goalie Derek Gustafson would allow no more, but his team's offense sputtered for most of the game until four minutes remained in regulation.  Alaska fired eight shots on goal in those four minutes, but its comeback hopes were repeatedly thwarted by Plante, a rookie making just his second pro start.

    The Aces (3-2-1) out-shot the Everblades 31-21, but failed to score on any of their five power play opportunities.

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