Behind MacIntyre, Danbury Blanks Brooklyn 3-0

DANBURY, CONN- Behind a 35-save effort from Derek MacIntyre and their trademark gritty play, the Danbury Mad Hatters defeated the Brooklyn Aces 3-0.

For the Aces, this loss was an especially frustrating one, as the the team failed to convert on five powerplays and 35 shots on goal.

“We haven’t scored goals against Danbury or New Jersey in the past three weeks,” said Aces captain Rob Miller. “When you don’t score, you’re in trouble. It was happening when I was behind the bench and it’s still happening with me on the ice. We have to snap out of it.”

R.J. Gates led off the scoring for Danbury, taking swift advantage of a puck handling flub by Aces goaltender Eddie Neville and deposited a wrister in the back of the net at 7:08 of the first.

“Eddie was great tonight, but that mistake put us behind the eight ball,” said Aces head coach Chris Firriolo. “We were never able to get back on track after that.”

Newcomer Joe Pelle attempted to get the Aces back in gear in the second, taking on Danbury’s Matt Cosmos in a spirited-scrap, but Brooklyn couldn’t translate their efforts into anything that could be written on the scoresheet.

Danbury on the other hand continued to play an aggressive forecheck and made the most out of every Brooklyn mistake.

“I feel like they [the offense] made MacIntyre’s job too easy tonight,” said Neville. “Those guys are always in front of me and pushing into me and we weren’t doing that. No one was willing to pay the price in front of the net tonight.”

Already down 1-0, the Aces fell into deeper trouble in the second, after a Jesse Felten turnover led to a Brian Hannafin goal that doubled Danbury’s lead.

With a two-goal lead going into the final period, Danbury continued to play aggressive hockey and the Aces, despite continuous offensive pressure, were unable to get anything past MacIntyre. With 1:02 left Neville was removed for an extra skater and Danbury took advantage of that as well, nabbing a Chad Jones shorthanded marker that sealed the Aces fate at 3-0.

Scoring 14 goals in their last two games before last night, Brooklyn understands that they have to step up their play against Danbury and the New Jersey Rockhoppers, or else their playoff experience will be one they’d soon rather forget.

“Right now we’re not the best team in the league,” said Firriolo. “Right now, we’re probably third. That can can change though and it can change very quickly.”

Notes-

Neville made 37 saves on 39 shots.

The Aces are still nine points of New Jersey and 14 points ahead of Danbury for the top spot in the EPHL.

Pelle’s scrap with Cosmos has been added to the team’s fight page.

Aces forward Eric Frank missed last night’s game with Bronchitis, but will be in the lineup today against New Jersey.

Attendance for the game was 1,220.

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Related posts:

1. Danbury Stays Alive, Fend Off Aces in 4-3 Overtime Win After Danbury’s Chad Jones scored 57 seconds into overtime to...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.