COLUMBIA, S.C. (Ticker) -- Scott Stirling stopped all 19 shots he faced to help the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies blank the Columbia Inferno, 3-0, and take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Kelly Cup Finals.
Stirling, who blanked Columbia, 1-0, in the first game, extended his shutout streak in the playoffs to 141:29 and notched his league-leading third shutout of the postseason.
J.F. Caudron tallied with 4:50 remaining in the second period and then struck on the power play 6:13 into the final stanza with Kevin Colley and Luke Curtin picking up an assist on the play. With the two goals, Caudron is now the top goal scorer in playoffs with 11.
Stefan Rivard scored into an empty net with 75 seconds remaining in the game to secure the win for Atlantic City, which will try to take a commanding 3-0 series lead Saturday at home.
Patrick Couture made 26 saves in the loss for Columbia, which has lost its only two home games of the postseason in the finals.
--- Box Score ---
DATE - 05/09/03 Atlantic City (3) at Columbia (0)
SCORE BY PERIODS
Atlantic City 0 1 2--3
Columbia 0 0 0--0
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: Darby, CBA (Roughing), 3:09. Caudron, ATC (Roughing), 4:35. Pittman, CBA (Roughing), 10:37. Metcalf, ATC (Hooking), 14:40. Labelle, CBA (Roughing), 17:54. Talbot, ATC (Roughing), 17:54. St. Croix, CBA (Cross checking), 18:06. Talbot, ATC (Ten minute misc.), 20:00. Labelle, CBA (Ten minute misc.), 20:00. Owens, CBA (Roughing), 20:00.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Atlantic City-Caudron 10 (game winner) (Nicholishen; Henkel) 15:10. Penalties: Demmans, CBA (Tripping), 5:31. Darby, CBA (Tripping), 10:44. Spadafora, ATC (Hooking), 16:12.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Atlantic City-Caudron 11 (power play) (Colley; Curtin) 6:13. 3, Atlantic City-Rivard 5 (empty net) (unassisted) 18:45. Penalties: Spadafora, ATC (Hooking), 2:39. Moore, CBA (Roughing), 4:56. St. Croix, CBA (Cross checking), 5:30. Furey, ATC (Holding), 7:53. Colley, ATC (Roughing), 18:18. St. Croix, CBA (Roughing), 18:18. Spadafora, ATC (Roughing), 18:18. Wansborough, CBA (Roughing), 18:18. Spadafora, ATC (Roughing), 18:18. Vial, CBA (Unsportsmanlike Cond), 18:18. Maltby, ATC (Fighting, Major), 18:18. Vial, CBA (Fighting, Major, Game misc.), 18:18. Labelle, CBA (Fighting, Major), 19:59. Munn, ATC (Fighting, Major), 19:59. Matzka, ATC (Slashing, Major, Game misc.), 20:00. Cabana, CBA (Slashing), 20:00.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Atlantic City 11 8 10--29
Columbia 4 6 9--19
Power Play Conversions: Atlantic City - 1 of 6, Columbia - 0 of 5.
Goalies: Atlantic City-Stirling (19 shots, 19 saves; record: 6-3-0). Columbia-Couture (28 shots, 26 saves; record: 9-3-1).
A: 3899. Referee: Ernst. Linesmen: O'Brien; Phillips.
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