ANCHORAGE, AK – After firing 50 shots on the Rapid City net Friday, the Alaska Aces got 45 more Saturday, but Luke Siemens repelled all but two as the Rush knocked off the Aces 5-2 at the Sullivan Arena.
The fourth-place Aces loss, along with wins by Missouri and Utah Saturday pulls the Mavericks into a tie with Alaska, and the Grizzlies are one point back in the race for the final Mountain Division playoff spot.
After a scoreless first period in which Alaska outshot Rapid City 18-5, the Rush opened the scoring at 1:36 into the second period on a goal by Geoff Fortman, his first of the season. Assists on the tally went to Ryan Walters and Christian Horn.
The Aces tied the game at the 6:55 mark. Danny Moynihan zipped a wrister from the top of the right circle into the net for his 21st goal of the season off passes from Tommy Olczyk and Ben Lake.
The Rush would regain the lead at 14:19 as Mike Monfredo beat Aces netminder Kevin Carr.
Shots on net after two favored the Aces at 29-17.
Alaska continued to outshoot Rapid City badly in the third period, but it was Marcus Ortiz getting the game-winning goal at 10:18 unassisted.
After Pavel Laplante trimmed the RC lead to 3-2 at 17:07 on the power play, Anchorage native Hunter Fejes sealed the deal with goals at 18:52 and 19:59, the latter coming as Fejes was pulled down on his way to an empty net.
Final shots in the contest were 45-22 Alaska.
The Aces were 1-for-5 on the power play while Rapid City went 0-for-4.
Alaska and Rapid City will play again Sunday afternoon at 3:05 p.m. at the Sullivan Arena.
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