Aces bow in Bako, playoffs begin Monday night in Anchorage

Published on April 8, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Mathieu Brunelle scored twice, including the game-winner with 9:42 to play, as Bakersfield upended Alaska 5-3 before 8,192 Saturday at Rabobank Arena in a meaningless regular season finale for both teams.

With Alaska already having claimed the Brabham Cup for compiling the league's best regular season record and Bakersfield having assured itself of the second seed in the Pacific Division, the Condors grabbed the early edge when Eric Neilson scored off the rush at 4:40 of the first period when his centering pass was inadvertently deflected past Aces starter John DeCaro by defenseman Patrick Wellar. The Condors extended their lead to 2-0 when Dave Bonk tipped in a drive from Scott Balan with 1:40 left in the frame.

Alaska tied the game with two quick strikes in the second period, as Mike Lee scored his second goal in as many nights at 1:58 and Patrick Wellar went coast-to-coast before beating Bakersfield netminder Marty Magers with a backhander five-hole at 7:23. The Condors regained the advantage before the break, however, as Mathieu Brunelle snapped a wrist shot past DeCaro with 3:10 remaining in the period.

Corbin Schmidt fed Vladimir Novak for the equalizer off the rush with 11:40 left in regulation, but Brunelle scored the eventual game-winner less than two minutes later when he out-muscled Kimbi Daniels and DeCaro in front of the net, jamming home his second of the night for a 4-3 Bakersfield lead. Sean

Venedam tallied an empty netter with 20 seconds left, sealing the 40th victory of the season for the Condors, who finished second in the Pacific Division. Alaska managed a season-low 18 shots on goal in completing the second-best season in the history of the ECHL at 53-12-7.

The Aces return home to open the Kelly Cup playoffs Monday and Tuesday night against the Utah Grizzlies at 7:15 p.m. The best-of-seven series shifts to the ‘E' Center just outside Salt Lake City for Games Three and Four Thursday and Friday night at 5:05 p.m. AST. Alaska posted a 6-2-2 record against Utah this season, including a perfect 5-0 at Sullivan Arena. All Alaska Aces games are broadcast live on KFQD AM 750 and at www.alaskaaces.com, where all home games and selected road contests also are available on a pay-per-view basis, courtesy of B2 Networks.

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