SF Bulls End Season With Hard-Fought Game 5 Loss to Alaska
ECHL Playoffs: SF Bulls versus the Alaska Aces
The San Francisco Bulls inaugural season in the ECHL came to an end Saturday night as the dropped Game 5 of their best of seven playoff series to the Alaska Aces 5-3. The Aces won the final three games of the series, sweeping the three contest played at the Cow Palace. For more on this story, please see Charles Richards’ write up below via sfbulls.com :
Dean Ouellet scored late in the third period to bring the Bulls within one, but the San Francisco Bulls were defeated by the Alaska Aces, 5-3, in Game 5 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals, Saturday night at the Cow Palace. Peter Sivak capped his amazing season with his first career ECHL playoff goal. With the victory, the Bulls conclude their historic first season, while Aces move on to face Western Conference Semifinals.
The Bulls broke the ice with their first power play goal of the series with 4:26 remaining in the first period. Bryan Cameron scored his first of the playoffs from D. Ouellet and Rob Kwiet. Cameron collected the puck in front of the net, turned, and fired it over the glove of Mark Guggenberger. Alaska found a late goal on Bobby Hughes’ fourth goal of the playoffs. Hughes broke away with Alexandre Imbeault on an odd-man rush. Hughes converted on the play with 1:57 left in the period.
A series of unfortunate events for the Bulls led to Alaska taking a 2-1 lead in the second period. San Francisco thought they had scored, but the goal was waived off by the referee for goaltender interference. The Aces took the lead on the power play at 8:51 of the period on Hughes’ second goal of the evening. Imbeault and Steve Ward picked up the assists. Alaska extended their lead to 3-1 when Alex Hudson scored his second goal of the playoffs with 5:22 remaining in the period. Chris Clackson picked up the only assist.
The Aces scored on the power play at 3:37 to take a 4-1 lead. Garry Nunn tipped a shot by Kane Lafranchise in front of Thomas Heemskerk into the net for his second goal of the playoffs. Hughes also assisted on the play. Sivak scored his first goal of the playoffs on a beautiful wrist shot with 8:13 remaining in the game to make the score 4-2 in favor of the Aces. Jordan Morrison and Antoine Corbin assisted. D. Ouellet scored his third goal of the playoffs to make the score 4-3 with 1:38 remaining in regulation. This time it was Cameron and Kris Belan picking up the assists. The Aces added an empty net goal with a minute remaining to seal a 5-3 victory.
Bulletins: Kris Belan dropped the gloves in the first period…Dean Ouellet ended the season with a four-game point streak…The Aces out-shot the Bulls 32-30…The Bulls scored their first power play goal of the series.
Three Stars:
1. Bobby Hughes (AK)
2. Bryan Cameron (SF)
3. Peter Sivak (SF)