Aces Clinch Division, Conference Titles; Lamoureux Sets Record
April 4, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
West Valley City, Utah-- Jean-Philippe Lamoureux set an ECHL record with his eighth shutout of the season while Scott Burt scored for the sixth consecutive game, leading Alaska to a 3-0 win at Utah which cemented its fourth West Division and third National Conference title in the last five years.
Coupled with Idaho's 3-2 loss to Phoenix, the Aces (45-23-3) secured home ice advantage through the first three rounds of the postseason. Only Brabham Cup champion Florida boasts a better regular season record in the ECHL. Alaska has won seven of its last nine road games and 17 of its previous 21 overall.
In front of 6,866 Friday night at the 'E' Center, Burt scored the only goal Lamoureux would need at 9:40 of the opening period, finishing off a give-and-go from Tomas Kana. The Aces stretched their lead with back-to-back power play goals in the second period, a drive by Bryan Miller from the point 51 seconds into the frame and Lance Galbraith's 18th of the year, which came on a rebound less than three minutes later.
Burt's goal marked his seventh in six games, his eighth in eight contests, and his 20th of the year, giving Alaska five 20-goal scorers. Meanwhile, Miller's 10th goal of the season means that 12 Aces have reached double digits in goals this year. Lamoureux made 10 saves in each period, 30 for the game, in blanking Utah for the third time this season and establishing a new single-season ECHL mark for shutouts. 10 of Alaska's 45 wins have come by way of the whitewash, one shy of the league record, set by Wheeling in 2003-04.
Tomorrow's regular season finale, in which rookie Matt Lundin, fresh out of Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa., will make his professional debut between the pipes, will be broadcast live on KFQD AM 750, with Peanut Farm Pre-Game Show coverage beginning at 4:45 p.m.
Alaska has beaten Utah (27-28-16) seven straight times by a combined score of 31-9 heading into tomorrow's rematch. The teams will meet again in a best-of-seven, first round playoff series that opens next weekend in Anchorage. The Aces swept the Grizzlies in four straight games on their way to the 2006 Kelly Cup. The complete first round playoff schedule is as follows (all times AT):
April 10 Utah @ Alaska 7:15
April 11 Utah @ Alaska 7:15
April 15 Alaska @ Utah 5:05
April 17 Alaska @ Utah 5:05
April 18 Alaska @ Utah 5:05 (if necessary)
April 21 Utah @ Alaska 7:15 (if necessary)
April 22 Utah @ Alaska 7:15 (if necessary)
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