Aces Throttle Salmon Kings, 8-2
Published on April 26, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska- Colin Hemingway enjoyed a five-point night as Alaska took command of the West Division Finals with an 8-2 pounding of Victoria Saturday before 5,533 at Sullivan Arena.
The Aces lead the best-of-seven series two games to none as the series now shifts to Canadian soil, with Games Three and Four scheduled for next Wednesday and Friday at 6:05 p.m. AT. Both contests will be broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM, with the Peanut Farm Pre-Game Show getting underway 15 minutes prior to the opening face-off. If necessary, Game Five would be held in Victoria next Saturday at 6:05 p.m. AT.
The Salmon Kings had two power plays early in Saturday's game and took seven of the contest's first eight shots on goal, but a wrist shot by Scott Burt off the rush from the right circle that squeezed through Todd Ford's blocker side not only gave Alaska a 1-0 lead at 11:18 of the first period but set an ominous tone for the visitors. Colin Hemingway scored the first of five power play goals for the Aces on a give-and-go from Cam Keith at 15:24 to push the margin to two, and when Alexandre Imbeault scored coming over the blue line on a wrist shot that beat Ford's glove 70 seconds later, Alaska headed for the room having managed three goals on just five shots.
Cam Keith tacked on a power play goal to increase the gap to 4-0 midway through the second period before Victoria finally got on the board, as Darryl Lloyd tipped home Wes Goldie's wrist shot with 6:30 remaining in the frame. The goal ended a scoreless streak of more than 244 minutes for J.P. Lamoureux who had blanked the Salmon Kings 3-0 in the opener of this series after having bageled Utah twice at Sullivan Arena two weekends ago. Defenseman Ryan Turek beat Ford five-hole with a backhander off the rush in the period's final minute, giving the Aces a 5-1 spread at the break.
Power play goals by Josh Soares, Burt, and Tomas Kana increased the gap to 8-1 before Scott Howes scored Victoria's second power play goal of the night with 2:01 to play to account for the final margin. Soares, Keith, and Imbeault all contributed a goal and two assists in support of Hemingway's goal and four helpers.
Alaska has beaten Victoria in eight of their last nine meetings, all played in Anchorage. The Aces have won 10 straight games at home and 21 of their previous 23 at Sullivan Arena, while also claiming nine of their last 13 on the road heading into Wednesday's Game Three. Alaska has trailed for exactly 95 seconds in winning six of its first seven playoff games.
WEST DIVISION FINALS (all times AT):
(Aces lead best-of-7, 2-0)
Game 1: Alaska 3, Victoria 0
Game 2: Alaska 8, Victoria 2
Game 3: Wednesday Alaska @ Victoria 6:05
Game 4: Friday Alaska @ Victoria 6:05
Game 5: Saturday, May 2 Alaska @ Victoria 6:05 (if necessary)
Game 6: Tuesday, May 5 Victoria @ Alaska 7:15 (if necessary)
Game 7: Wednesday, May 6 Victoria @ Alaska 7:15 (if necessary)
ECHL Stories from April 26, 2009
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- Kelly Cup Quest Daily - South Carolina Stingrays
- Aces Throttle Salmon Kings, 8-2 - Alaska Aces
- Salmon Kings Fall To Aces - Victoria Salmon Kings
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