Taranto, Findlay each collect two goals in victory at Bakersfield
March 26, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Andy Taranto and Brett Findlay each scored two goals and Aaron Crandall made 17 saves for his second win, boosting the Alaska Aces (42-17-6, 90 points) to a 4-2 victory over the Bakersfield Condors before 3,611 fans at Rabobank Arena on Tuesday.
Crandall won again in just his second pro start, helping the Aces rally from a 2-0 deficit with four unanswered goals. They reduced their magic number to three points for the Mountain Division title.
Jordan Knackstedt's 17th goal of the season, at 5:41 put Bakersfield ahead 1-0 on a set-up by Nick MacNeil from the left circle. Eric Burgdoerfer snuck his 11th goal of the season through traffic, from the blueline, with 3:24 left for a 2-0 edge.
The Aces, who failed to record a shot on goal for the first six minutes, recovered with several steady shifts in the offensive zone and finally got back into the game on Taranto's 10th goal at 4:30 of the second period. Taranto took Tyler Mosienko's feed and snuck to the front of the net with a backhander that fluttered through Chet Pickard's five hole.
Crandall made 10 saves in the period, including a glove save on Knackstedt from the right circle.
Findlay then scored back-to-back goals for the lead, beginning with 5:34 left when he danced around a Condors defenseman at the left circle and beat Pickard with a backhander on a last-second break. Alex Belzile then set up Findlay on a centering pass and one-timer with 3:15 left in the period that beat Pickard under the crossbar.
The Aces controlled the third period with an 11-4 shots edge and drained the clock with consistent chips into the offensive zone. Taranto's second goal of the game boosted the lead to 4-2 at 11:33, after Turner Elson misfired off the post from the left circle. Taranto quickly hammered the rebound past Pickard's glove.
Pickard made 28 saves and took the loss.
NOTES: The Aces scratched Dustin Molle, Mathew Sisca, Eli Zuck, David Eddy, Tommy Mele, Tim Coffman and John Ramage ... Findlay has five goals in the last six games ... the Aces outshot Bakersfield, 35-21 after allowing the first four shots of the game ... the Aces finished 6-1-1 in the season against Bakersfield.
The road trip continues Friday at Orleans Arena against the Las Vegas Wranglers, beginning at 6:05 p.m (KFQD). Season ticket and sponsorship packages are currently available through the Aces office at 15th & Gambell. For more information, please call the Aces at 907.258.ACES or visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey.
Three Stars:
1. AK - B. Findlay
2. BAK - N. MacNeil
3. AK - A. Taranto
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from March 26, 2014
- Colorado Breaks 3rd Period Tie to End Grizzlies 4-Game Winning Streak - Utah Grizzlies
- Cyclones Down Solar Bears 5-1 - Orlando Solar Bears
- Cyclones Pummel Solar Bears, 5-1 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- ECHL Transactions - March 26 - ECHL
- Weekly Weather Report: the Weekly News and Notes of the Stockton Thunder - Stockton Thunder
- Gwinnett Picks up Two Forwards - Atlanta Gladiators
- Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Cincinnati Cyclones - March 26 - Orlando Solar Bears
- Elmira Jackals Announce Multiple Transactions - Elmira Jackals
- Game Preview - Ontario Reign vs. Las Vegas Wranglers - Ontario Reign
- Stingrays Present Pink in the Rink Donations Check to Susan G. Komen Tonight - South Carolina Stingrays
- Todd Snider, Post-Game Skate and Full Team Autograph Session Highlight Wranglers Final Weekend Home - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Thunder Host Idaho for Important Series - Stockton Thunder
- Cyclones Game Preview - Cincinnati at Orlando - Cincinnati Cyclones
- The Stanley Cup Visits the Stingrays for the First Time in over a Decade this Saturday - South Carolina Stingrays
- Penguins Recall Rowney - Wheeling Nailers
- ECHL Today - March 26 - ECHL
- Taranto, Findlay each collect two goals in victory at Bakersfield - Alaska Aces
- Condors Can't Hold on against Alaska - Bakersfield Condors
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
