WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah  -- Nick Mazzolini (pictured at left) scored a hat trick and assisted on two other goals as Alaska never trailed in a 6-2 rout of Utah in front of 2,872 Saturday at the 'E' Center.   

The Aces (10-8-2) won the last two games of the three-game series by a combined score of 11-4 after losing the opener, 2-1, on Wednesday.  Alaska trails second-place Utah (12-6) by two points in the West Division heading into its games Thursday and Friday at division-leading Idaho.  Both games will be aired live on KFQD 750 AM, with coverage getting underway at 4:45 p,m. AT.  The Steelheads took five of six points at Sullivan Arena (the Aces got three) four weeks ago in a three-game series. 

For the second straight night, Alaska jumped on Utah early, as Mazzolini scored off the rush after a centering pass from Eric Boguniecki only 64 seconds into the contest.  Mazzolini's second goal came with 3:34 left in the frame, and when he completed his hat trick just 47 seconds into the second period, Grizzlies head coach Kevin Colley removed his starting goaltender, Parker Van Buskirk.

Tom May scored a power play goal at 3:02 of the middle frame to put Utah on the board, but John Lammers answered with a power play goal for Alaska at 8:54.  The Grizzlies had an opportunity to get back into the game, trailing 4-1 but on a two-man advantage, only to see their former captain, Scott Burt, intercept a Ryan Kinasewich pass and go coast-to-coast for his league-leading third shorthanded goal of the season.  Alaska now has an ECHL-best nine shorties on the year, three more than any other team in the league.

Lance Galbraith scored his first goal since October 17 in the final minute of the second period, leaving the Aces with a 6-1 bulge at the break.  Mark Pavli registered his first goal of the year for Utah at 6:20 of the third period to account for the final margin.  Scott Reid finished with 42 saves for Alaska, which was out-shot 44-20.