ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Alaska Aces defeated the Utah Grizzlies, 2-0, Saturday evening at the Sullivan Arena to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven playoff series. It is the second-straight evening that Alaska has defeated Utah 2-0.

Goaltender Mike Mole again suffered the tough-luck loss for the Grizzlies stopping 36 of 38 shots.

Alaska took a 1-0 lead with 24 seconds left to go in the first period following a Utah turnover behind the net. The Grizzlies appeared to have control of the puck and were ready to start a controlled breakout before the puck was picked up by Josh Soares who fed Luke Erickson to make the score 1-0.

The second period was scoreless as Utah outshot Alaska 9-7.

Utah pulled Mole for an extra-attacker with just less than three minutes left but was unable to score.

The series now reverts to the E-Center Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.