Nick Niedert has proven more than a few times this season that he knows how to steal games against the best the EPHL has to offer.
Making 35 saves against a hungry Brooklyn offense, the Rockhoppers netminder powered a 4-1 win over an Aces team that is looking far from the first place team it’s supposed to be.
“We’re going to create offense, we’re a skilled team; we just have to take advantage of our opportunities. We’re just a bit too vanilla right now ,” said Aces captain C.J. Tozzo. “We were a bit soft. We have to get hungry again.”
Things started off well for the Aces however, as Chris Holmes slapped his way on to the blank scoreboard in the first, depositing his own rebound past Niedert at 8:36 after a sexy pass from Kyle McCullough, giving Brooklyn a 1-0 lead.
Taking 19 shots in the period, the Aces avoided the flat early efforts that have become a concern this season. Brooklyn goaltender Eddie Neville was also sound in the period, making nine saves, many of them with confidence and from in front of the crease.
“I felt good,” said Neville “I felt confident.”
New Jersey was the aggressor in the next period however and after just 3:39, the Rockhoppers tied the game on an Anthony Becker howitzer that beat Neville. Things stayed that way the rest of the period as both Niedert and Neville made several spectacular saves. Aces defenseman Doug Hoffman did his fair share of puck stopping in the period as well, blocking a Matt Puntureri shot in the slot and later sliding across the crease to stop a barrage of New Jersey opportunities to keep the game tied going into the third period.
“He played great defense tonight,” said Aces head coach Chris Firriolo of Hoffman. “It was good to see him do that out there.”
The game’s frenetic pace continued into the third, but a Kyle Bozoian goal at 7:36 put New Jersey in the drivers seat. Brooklyn continued to put shots on Niedert, but every time, the Rockhoppers netminder obliged, keeping them scoreless the rest of the way. A Chris Ferazzoli marker at 10:39 put New Jersey up for good and a Matt Tyree empty net marker at 18:33 put the game away for good.
Dropping three games in a row for the first time all season, Firriolo isn’t concerned, but he wants his team to regain the offensive form that has them at the top of the league.
“We can’t finish,” he said. “I thought we played our best period all season in the first, but we couldn’t finish. Right now, we’re the top dogs and every one is gunning for us and they’re going a good job. Like I’ve said before, I’m not concerned. Every great team goes through a run like this. At the end of the day, it’s better that this happens now than later. We have to focus.”
Notes-
Forward Mike Baccaro, a teammate of Tozzo’s at Plattsburgh State, made his professional debut for Brooklyn, registering three shots.
Mike Christensen and Dan Carney were both out of the lineup. Christensen is suffering from a strained MCL and Carney has a broken finger. While Christensen’s status is still unknown, Carney, affording to Firriolo is expected to be in the lineup against Danbury.
The Aces powerplay went 0 for 3.
Neville made 34 saves on 37 shots.
Attendance for the game was 1479.
Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr.
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