Two goals in third put Aces one win away from the Kelly Cup
June 8, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
CINCINNATI, Ohio - Brad Richard and Turner Elson each scored in the final five minutes of the third period to snap a 2-2 tie and lift the Alaska Aces to a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Cyclones in Game 5 of the Kelly Cup Finals before 4,488 fans at U.S. Bank Arena on Saturday.
The victory moved the Aces to within one win of a third K elly Cup championship, on the strength of Gerald Coleman's 28 saves and additional goals supplemented by Jordan Morrison and Sean Curry in the first two periods, quickly erasing leads posted by Cincinnati.
KELLY CUP FINALS - ALASKA VS. CINCINNATI (Alaska leads, 3-2)
(all times ADT)
GAME 1 - Cincinnati 3 at Alaska 5
GAME 2 - Cincinnati 2 at Alaska 1
GAME 3 - Cincinnati 0 at Alaska 2
GAME 4 - Alaska 1 at Cincinnati 3
GAME 5 - Alaska 4 at Cincinnati 2
GAME 6 - Alaska at Cincinnati (U.S. Bank Arena) - Mon. 6/9, 3:35 pm
GAME 7 - Cincinnati at Alaska (Sullivan Arena) - Wed. 6/11, 7:15 pm *
*If necessary
It took just 13 seconds for Josh Birkholz to put the Aces in a 1-0 hole after the opening face-off, stuffing a rebound high over Gerald Coleman's glove after Dan Eves produced a chance off the rush with a backhander from the right circle.
Morrison's ninth goal of the postseason, just 2:56 later, leveled the game at 1-1 on a backhander from the right dot that deflected off the Cyclones defense and snuck by Rob Madore's pads.
Trevor Lewis' fourth goal of the postseason, at 7:40 of the second period, restored the Cyclones lead momentarily on a rebound at the net, but the Aces responded on the ensuing shift.
Elson rolled out to the left circle and whipped a cross-ice pass to the tape of Curry, skating toward the right circle. Curry fired a shot under the bar, past Madore at 8:09 to tie the game at 2-2.
The Aces seized momentum and pounded Madore with 21 shots in the seconds period, and it took several key saves by Madore (including a breakaway by Evan Trupp) to the keep the game in the balance.
But in the third period, Richard's first career postseason proved to be the difference. The ECHL All-Rookie defenseman pinched in and converted Morrison's cross-ice pass to the right circle, re-directing the shot past Madore's glove for a 3-2 lead with 5:55 left in regulation.
Elson then took Connolly's relay with speed, driving the net with a shot off Madore's pads that was quickly tucked in with 2:10 left for a 4-2 advantage.
Madore took the loss on 37 saves.
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