Post by krakengm on Apr 21, 2023 20:21:41 GMT -5
Stockton, CA - With their fifth win in a row the Seatac Aviators simultaneously clinched a playoff spot and vaulted themselves into fourth place in the Western Conference, giving them a good shot at home ice advantage in the first round. The club currently sits with 96 points, 2 ahead of 5th place Atlantic City Blackjacks. Both clubs have 2 games remaining. Adirondack also sit 2 points back, but have just one game remaining.
Two quick goals by Marian Studenic early in the second period, followed by Rocco Grimaldi's eventual game-winner at 11:12 put the Avaiators up 3-0 and they hung as the Heat fought back with a Reid Duke goal late in the second, and a Ryan Lomberg tally at 8:01 of the third period. Both goals came on the powerplay, but the club could not solve Arvid Soderblom at even strength. Checking forward Aarne Talvitie's yeoman work as an energy forward all year was finally rewarded with his first goal of the season at 12:33 to make the win official.
Seattle sits 1 point back of third place Louisville. The Aviators will travel to Hershey tomorrow to face the Bears before returning home to take the Laval Rocket on Sunday. Both clubs have been eliminated from the playoffs, so it remains to see if they are facing spoilers or teams that see nothing left to play for. Either way, head coach Jeff Daniels stated after the Adirondack game that these last two games are critical in terms of process to see if the club can keep building on their momentum so they can enter the playoffs in the right frame of mind.
--- Lois Clark for the Kent Reporter
Two quick goals by Marian Studenic early in the second period, followed by Rocco Grimaldi's eventual game-winner at 11:12 put the Avaiators up 3-0 and they hung as the Heat fought back with a Reid Duke goal late in the second, and a Ryan Lomberg tally at 8:01 of the third period. Both goals came on the powerplay, but the club could not solve Arvid Soderblom at even strength. Checking forward Aarne Talvitie's yeoman work as an energy forward all year was finally rewarded with his first goal of the season at 12:33 to make the win official.
Seattle sits 1 point back of third place Louisville. The Aviators will travel to Hershey tomorrow to face the Bears before returning home to take the Laval Rocket on Sunday. Both clubs have been eliminated from the playoffs, so it remains to see if they are facing spoilers or teams that see nothing left to play for. Either way, head coach Jeff Daniels stated after the Adirondack game that these last two games are critical in terms of process to see if the club can keep building on their momentum so they can enter the playoffs in the right frame of mind.
--- Lois Clark for the Kent Reporter