The Alaska Aces pulverized the Kalamazoo Wings, 5-0 in game one of the Kelly Cup Finals on Saturday night at Sullivan Arena. Chris Langkow scored two goals and Gerald Coleman saved all 25 shots he faced for his third shutout of the 2011 postseason. Game two is Sunday night at Sullivan Arena.
ECHL Most Valuable Player Wes Goldie scored his first goal in seven games for the only strike of the opening frame as Alaska outshot Kalamazoo 17-7 in the period. Langkow the gave the Aces a 2-0 lead on a timely goal with 57 seconds left in the second. The All-Star forward now has five goals in his last four games.
The third period belonged to the Aces, as they scored three goals in a span of three minutes and 34 seconds. Tyler Ruegsegger buried his second of the playoffs at 9:20, Langokow added his second of the night at 11:41, and Ethan Cox capped the goal parade at 12:54.
The Aces also shut down the Wings potent offense, which came in averaging 4.21 goals per game in the playoffs. Alaska defensemen assisted Coleman all night by winning battles to loose pucks and blocking shots.
