Aces Polish off Grizz; Victoria Next

Published on April 19, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - The line of Cam Keith, Josh Soares, and Colin Hemingway combined for 10 points as Alaska advanced to the West Division Finals with a 5-2 victory at Utah before 2,960 Saturday at the 'E' Center.

The Aces took the best-of-seven series, four games to one, with back-to-back 2-0 shutout wins last weekend and 5-2 triumphs this weekend after a 3-2 overtime loss in between in Game Three. Alaska has advanced past the first round in an ECHL record six consecutive years since entering the league in 2004. The Aces open the best-of-seven West Division Finals at home next Friday and Saturday against Victoria, who eliminated Idaho in four straight games, the last of which was a 2-1 overtime verdict Friday.

Friday's win over the Grizzlies featured a scoreless first two periods, despite a second frame in which Alaska out-shot the hosts, 24-5. Utah goalie Mike Mole stopped the first 39 shots he faced and saw his team go up 1-0 when Vladimir Nikiforov scored his third goal of the series at 3:23 of the third period. The first (and last) lead in regulation for the Grizz lasted exactly 1:35, as Soares tied the contest after a well-executed feed off the endboards from Keith.

Soares followed up a rebound of his own shot for the tie-breaking goal, a backhander over the prostrate Mole at 8:27. Lance Galbraith did likewise with 9:55 left in regulation, and Colin Hemingway took a pass from Soares and whistled a one-timer past Mole 33 seconds later to push the margin to 4-1 and complete a flurry athat saw the Aces score three times in a span of 2:11 and four goals in less than six minutes.

James Sixsmith provided Utah with one last gasp at 11:29 of the final period, but J.P. Lamoureux ensured that no comeback was in the offing, holding the Grizz scoreless the rest of the way and finishing with 26 saves. Keith's empty-netter in the game's final minute completed the scoring and capped a four-point night for him personally (1g-3a).

Alaska has gone 19-5 in winning all of its ECHL first round series. The Aces return to practice Tuesday in preparation for Victoria next weekend. Both games start at 7:15 p.m. and will be broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM, with live coverage getting underway at the top of the hour. Alaska went 8-5 against the Salmon Kings this season and defeated Victoria in their only previous postseason encounter, four games to two, in the opening round of the 2007 Kelly Cup playoffs. The Aces lost four of the first six head-to-head confrontations this season, but won six of the last seven.

WEST DIVISION SEMI-FINALS

(Alaska wins series, 4-1)

Game 1: Alaska 2, Utah 0

Game 2: Alaska 2, Utah 0

Game 3: Utah 3, Alaska 2 (OT)

Game 4: Alaska 5, Utah 2

Game 5: Alaska 5, Utah 2

WEST DIVISION FINALS (all times AT):

Game 1: Friday Victoria @ Alaska 7:15

Game 2: April 25 Victoria @ Alaska 7:15

Game 3: April 29 Alaska @ Victoria 6:05

Game 4: May 1 Alaska @ Victoria 6:05

Game 5: May 2 Alaska @ Victoria 6:05 (if necessary)

Game 6: May 5 Victoria @ Alaska 7:15 (if necessary)

Game 7: May 6 Victoria @ Alaska 7:15 (if necessary)

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ECHL Stories from April 19, 2009


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