Aces polish off Dogs before another sell-out
April 26, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska â Playing in front of their third consecutive packed house at Sullivan Arena, the Alaska Aces scored twice to break open a scoreless game in the second period and held off Long Beach 3-1 to complete a three-game sweep of the West Division Finals.
A standing-room-only crowd of 6,451 flocked into an unseasonably warm arena (65 degrees in Anchorage Monday) wearing white and eagerly anticipating the Aces winning two straight playoff series for the first time ever. After a scoreless opening period in which Alaska held the Ice Dogs to only seven shots, Chris Minard put the Aces on the board, scoring off the rush and after a terrific move by Charles Linglet (a league-leading 12 points in the playoffs) that set up a one-timer at 7:11 of the middle frame. Six minutes later, while on all fours, Mike Scott flipped in a backhander top shelf over Long Beach goalie Sebastien Centomo's right shoulder for a power play goal that left Alaska in front 2-0 with 20 minutes to play.
Centomo kept the Ice Dogs in the game, finishing with 31 saves, but Peter Aubry, as he had been all series, proved better, stopping 23 shots Monday and 93 of 97 for the series (.959). Only Michael Lambert's tip-in with 13:20 left in the game prevented a shutout, but Long Beach would draw no closer, finally seeing its hopes dashed on a Kimbi Daniels empty-netter with 12.2 seconds remaining.
Alaska becomes the first team to advance to the Kelly Cup semi-finals and will await the winner of the North Division Finals between Trenton and Reading, currently tied at one game apiece heading into Wednesday night's Game Three. The Aces will play host to either the Titans or the Royals in Games One and Two of the best-of-seven National Conference Finals Tuesday, May 3, and Wednesday, May 4 at 7:15 p.m. Games Six and Seven, if necessary, would be played at Sullivan Arena Friday, May 13, and Monday, May 16, also at 7:15 p.m. Tickets for the conference finals go on sale Tuesday, April 26, at 8:00 a.m. All playoff games are broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM and at www.alaskaaces.com, courtesy of B2 Networks. For additional 2005 Kelly Cup playoff information or 2005-06 season tickets, please call 258-ACES.
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ECHL Stories from April 26, 2005
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Kelly Cup Playoffs Update - Augusta Lynx
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Ice Dogs Eliminated, Fall To Aces 3-1 - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Aces polish off Dogs before another sell-out - Alaska Aces
- Charlotte evens series at 1-1 with 4-3 win over Gwinnett in sudden-death OT - Charlotte Checkers
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