What is the Secret Behind the Aces Early Success?

[SweatyBeaver 132]

A lot of people who have followed the VHLM did not think that the Las Vegas Aces were going to achieve the success that the currently have had. At the time of writing the Aces are 2 points behind the red hot Storm and tied with Saskatoon.

 

What has been the key to the Aces strong early season run? I would say it has been coming up clutch and buying into a defence first game. In the Aces first 24 games 5 of them have went to extra time and the Aces have won each game in extra time and have yet to suffer an OTL or SOL. The Aces have won 4 games in the shootout and once in overtime against the Mississauga Hounds. In the OT match against the Hounds Gregg Stallion scored the game winning goal 44 seconds into the extra frame, assisted by star defensemen Alex Letang and Micah Adrienne.

 

Winning 4 times in the shootout is an impressive feat. It speaks volumes to the strength of the team and how they play under clutch situations. The following are the stats of the 4 shootout rounds.

Gregg Stallion: 2/4

 

Jeff Blaze: 1/4

 

Remy Moreau: 2/4

 

Alex Letang: 2/3

 

Domonique Williams: 1/1

 

Nils Friedricksen: 4 goals against, 8 saves, 4 shots against that missed

 

 

For something as fluke based as a shootout it is fascinating that the Aces have dominated them despite not having crazy standout stats and individual success. That boils it down for the Aces, the team is not about individual success, The team game plan has always been defence first, best seen in their goals for which tally in at 89, good for 7^th in the VHLM. But lead by a strong defence (lead by Adrienne and Letang along with breakout rookie Matty Socks) and a star goalie the Aces have the lowest goals against in the league, only surrendering 49 in 24 games! The Aces are the most interesting team in the league right now, on paper they are not a super deep team and should not be where they are in the standings. Sure they might slide down a bit but it is clear right now that this is a team that has bought into a defense first mindset and are able to perform in the clutch when needed.

Edited June 2, 2020 by SweatyBeaver