Victoria beats Alaska for West title, Aces open playoffs in Boise Wednesday
April 6, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
VICTORIA, BC - Victoria wrapped up the West Division title with a 4-1 win over Alaska Saturday in front of a sell-out crowd of 7,006 at the Save-On Foods Memorial Centre. The Aces open the 2008 Kelly Cup playoffs on the road at Idaho Wednesday at 5:10 p.m. ADT.
With a 2-1 victory over Fresno, the Steelheads (40-22-10) had ended Alaska's bid for a fourth straight West Division championship, but the Aces could have secured home ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs with a regulation win over the Salmon Kings, who needed only a stalemate after 60 minutes to secure the title.
After a scoreless first period in which Alaska out-shot Victoria 13-8, Wes Goldie scored his league-leading 42nd goal of the season (12 of which came against the Aces) at 9:24 of the second period with the Salmon Kings shorthanded. But only 17 seconds later, on the same Alaska power play, Matt Shasby promptly tied the game with a blast from the left circle, ending Billy Thompson's scoreless streak against the Aces at 89:41. Thompson never was beaten again, however, and Derek Krestanovich put Victoria ahead for good with 5:43 left in the middle frame with a backhander that beat Alaska starter Mike Brown (27 saves) five-hole.
Darryl Lloyd push the Salmon Kings in front 3-1 with his 10th goal of the year at 6:27 of the third period, and needing three goals in the final five minutes to steal home ice advantage from Victoria, head coach Keith McCambridge elected to pull Brown in favor of the extra attacker, a tactic that ultimately failed, as Brady Leavold scored into an empty net with 3:42 remaining to account for the final margin. Thompson finished with 40 stops and 75 saves on 76 shots for the weekend.
All National Conference playoff series are best-of-seven, with the Aces and Steelheads (the last two Kelly Cup champions) getting underway Wednesday and Thursday with Games One and Two at Qwest Arena in Boise at 5:10 p.m. ADT. The series shifts to Anchorage for Games Three and Four Saturday, April 12, and Sunday, April 13, at 7:15 p.m. Game Five, if necessary, would be played at Sullivan Arena Tuesday, April 15, at 7:15 p.m. Games Six and Seven would return to Boise, if necessary, April 17 and 20.
2008 Kelly Cup playoff tickets are now on sale at the team offices at the corner of 15th and Gambell on weekdays between 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. All playoff games will be broadcast live on the flagship home of Aces hockey, AM 750 KFQD, with coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to the opening face-off. #4 Idaho vs. #5 Alaska: (all times AT)
Game 1: at Idaho Wed., April 9 5:10 p.m.
Game 2: at Idaho Thu., April 10 5:10 p.m.
Game 3: at Alaska Sat., April 12 7:15 p.m.
Game 4: at Alaska Sun., April 13 7:15 p.m.
Game 5: at Alaska Tue., April 15 7:15 p.m. *
Game 6: at Idaho Thu., April 17 5:10 p.m. *
Game 7: at Idaho Sun., April 20 5:10 p.m. *
*If necessary
ECHL Stories from April 6, 2008
- Thunder Opens Kelly Cup Playoffs Friday At Las Vegas, Schedule Announced - Stockton Thunder
- Chiefs Pummel Bombers - Johnstown Chiefs
- Chiefs Take Early Series Lead On Bombers With 3-1 Win - Dayton Bombers
- Salmon Kings' Estrada Returns From The AHL - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Wranglers Reveal First Round Playoff Schedule With Stockton - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Desharnais Named CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Cincinnati's Desharnais Named CCM Tacks Rookie of the Year - ECHL
- Kelly Cup Playoffs Schedule Released - ECHL
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Inferno Announce Playoff Schedule - Columbia Inferno
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Grizzlies Complete Regular Season With 4-3 Overtime Win - Utah Grizzlies
- Salmon Kings Win West - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Salmon Kings And Fans Best In The West - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Salmon Kings To Face Bakersfield In Round One Of Playoffs - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Victoria beats Alaska for West title, Aces open playoffs in Boise Wednesday - Alaska Aces
- RoadRunners' Season Ends With 4-3 Loss - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Wranglers Finish Off Phoenix, Win 4-3 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Steelheads Begin Defense Of Kelly Up On Wednesay At Qwest Arena - Idaho Steelheads
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