Tozzo’s Hat Trick Stifles Niedert and Rockhoppers in 4-2 Win

The way the Aces have been playing this season, going 21-2-2 through their first 25 games, you wouldn’t expect them to have problems against any team in the EPHL, right?

The New Jersey Rockhoppers have been responsible for two of Brooklyn’s losses this season however, thanks in part to brilliant goaltending by Nick Niedert, who seems to step up his game every time the two teams play.

Making 30 saves on the night, Niedert kept the Aces at bay for two periods, but wasn’t able to stop Aces assistant captain C.J Tozzo, whose two goals in the third paved the way for a 4-2 come from behind win.

“We played pretty bad in the first two periods,” said Aces head coach Chris Firriolo. “We played very well in the third period though and came back strong.”

Going into last night’s game unbeaten in 2009, the Aces knew beforehand that they’d have their hands full against a talented New Jersey Rockhoppers team, especially with veteran Chad Wilcox on injured reserve and steady defenseman Nick Grove on the sidelines.

“It’s tough,” said Firriolo. “Here we are, without some of our best players, but we worked really hard and everyone did their jobs. They didn’t quit.”

While Brooklyn outshot the Rockhoppers 15-10 in the first, New Jersey got on the board first on a Anthony Becker goal at 3:23. Tozzo got the Aces back in the game at 12:36 on a beautiful deke move that beat Niedert and tied the score at 1-1.

“I been in a bit of a skid lately,” said Tozzo. “It was a big boost to bury a few tonight.”

The game remained tied in the second until Rick Jondo laced a wrister from the point to beat Recicar at 9:51 and give the Rockhoppers a 2-1 lead. Already with a one-goal lead, Niedert continued to shock and awe the crowd, making several solid saves over the course of the final few minutes of the second to keep the score at 2-1.

Aces goaltender Miro Recicar wasn’t too shabby either, making a handful of saves in traffic towards the end of the period, giving Brooklyn an opportunity to come back in the third.

55 seconds into the third, Tozzo gave his goaltender his wish, blasting a slapshot off the post and and into the back of the net, tying the score at 2-2. 2:50 later, Tozzo’s linemate, Eric Frank lit the lamp on a sneaky howitzer from the right circle, giving Brooklyn a 3-2 lead. Tozzo’s hands continued to itch in third, as the surreptitious forward tallied again for the hat-trick, this time short-handed, at 5:05, giving the Aces a 4-2 lead.

“This was a really big game that we needed to win,” said Tozzo. “We wanted to make a statement in third and we did. We had a great team effort.”

With Recicar continuing to shine between the pipes, Brooklyn coasted through the last 14:55 without allowing another New Jersey goal, despite a few Rockhoppers powerplay opportunities and cemented an impressive 4-2 win.

“Tozzo was unbelievable,” said Firriolo. “He carried us on his back tonight.”

Notes-

Montreal Canadiens winger Chris Higgins dropped the ceremonial first puck.

Aces goaltender Miro Recicar made 29 saves for his league leading 13th win this season.

Aces center Mike Christensen missed the game due to personal reasons.

Aces leading scorer Kyle McCullough went down with an apparent lower body injury and will be day to day.

New addition Derek Kern earned an assist on Tozzo’s goal for his first point as an Ace.

Attendance for the game was 1,301.

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr.

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