ANCHORAGE, AK- Both teams entered the game with nearly a week layoff so it was going to be a race to see which team could get into playoff form first to determine who would have the early advantage.
Victoria had a bye week in the final week of the season and with a four game first round series they have only played four games in the last four weeks, which could give them the fresher legs overall as the series moves along. Alaska should know what to expect though as they are no stranger to the second round having made it past the first round for their sixth consecutive year, an ECHL record.
The Sullivan Arena was rocking from the drop of the first puck and the crowd of 4,933 was clearly in playoff form as they cheered the Aces to a 1-0 series lead throughout a 3-0 win.
In what was looking to be a great goaltending matchup Todd Ford (23 saves on 26 shots) got the start in goal for the Salmon Kings after giving up only four goals in round one. Jean-Phillipe Lamoureux (32 saves on 32 shots) got the start in goal for the Aces after being named ECHL Goalie of the Year and gave up only seven goals in the five games in round one, and all of those came on the road. Lamoureux came out the winner in game one with the shutout tonight, extending his shutout streak in the playoffs to 180 minutes at home.
The Aces found their game legs first when they put the first power play goal of the playoffs past Ford on a blast from Colin Hemingway that found its way just inside the right goal-post 11:23 into the first period, assists went to Bryan Miller and Matt Shasby. The Aces struck again on the 26th career playoff goal for Lance Galbraith at 16:34 who blasted a shot from just past the blue line past Ford to take a 2-0 lead. As the score indicated the Aces controlled the play and held a 14 to seven shot advantage in the period.
Victoria was getting the better of the play in the second period and looked like they might make a comeback but were stymied by Lamoureux who made several spectacular saves. The Aces took control of the game late in the period when Shasby scored with a power play blast through traffic late to give the Aces a commanding 3-0 lead with assists from Miller and Colin Hemingway. Shots on goal in the period were in the Salmon Kings favor by a 15 to six count.
The most tension in the final frame was whether or not Lamoureux would get the shutout as time wound down and the Aces defense was really keeping the ‘Kings frustrated. There were a couple fights to send a message for game two late in the game as first the Aces Cam Keith and Victoria’s Aaron Brockelhurst dropped the gloves. Next Brady Leovold dropped the gloves for the Salmon Kings with Alaska’s Tyson Marsh.
Although they lost the final shots on goal were in Victoria’s favor 32-26. Alaska went two-for-six on the power play while Victoria was held scoreless on six chances including two abbreviated two-man advantages in the second period.
Game two of the series will take place Saturday April 25 at the Sullivan Arena at 7:15 PM ADT.
Contact mike.canady@prohockeynews.com
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