Erik Miksik was at his puck-stopping finest once again on Sunday night as the 20-year-old made 48 saves to backstop the Athens Aeros to a 4-1 win over the Gananoque Islanders in Game 1 of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League Rideau Division final.
In giving up just one goal — a first-period marker by Tyler Murray that tied the game 1-1 — Miksik has allowed just two goals in his past three starts and only five in his past five starts, four of which have been wins. His overall playoff GAA is just 1.66 and his SV% is .956.
Offensively, the Aeros went ahead 1-0 at 7:17 of the opening period on an unassisted goal by Drew Powell. After Murray's goal, Daniel Lacroix, on another unassisted effort, scored what prove to be the game winner 16:33 into the opening frame.
Michael McKenney scored a power-play goal in the second and an even-strength goal early in the third to complete the scoring. The 16-year-old rookie, who turns 17 on March 7, leads the Aeros in playoff goals with six.
Ryan Kaszuba absorbed the goaltending loss, facing 41 shots.
Game 2 of the series is Wednesday night in Gananoque at 8:15 p.m.