Aces lose 4-2
February 5, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska â Bakersfield scored twice shorthanded and once on the power play in salvaging the third game of its showdown with Alaska by a score of 4-2 before 4,212 Saturday afternoon at Sullivan Arena.
Penalties marred the bulk of the first period, with a combined 53 minutes and nine power plays awarded, including a five-minute major whistled against Alaska defenseman Cal Benazic for spearing that led to the first goal of the game, a power play tally by Brett Lutes at 5:06. The Aces quickly tied the contest in a four-on-four situation, as Mike Clarke dropped a pass to Ryan Bast, who fired a one-timer by Bakersfield goalie Yutaka Fukufuji for a 1-1 tie at 6:24. Five minutes later, Alaska found itself on the power play with a chance to take its first lead, but instead Paul Rosebush launched a drive from just inside the blue line that squeezed through Aces starter Peter Aubry to give Bakersfield a 2-1 lead it would never relinquish with 8:45 left in the first period.
The Condors pushed the margin to 3-1 with another shorthanded goal late in the second period. Alaska had allowed only two shorties coming into the game, but another burst by Rosebush was followed up by rookie Ty Hennes, who shoveled the puck by Aubry with 2:37 left in the period. The Aces failed to score on two more power play chances to start the third period but crept within one following a failed Bakersfield opportunity. Joe Talbot hit Kimbi Daniels, coming out of the penalty box, in stride and Daniels beat Fukufuji on the ensuing breakaway with 7:23 still left in regulation. But Alaska never seriously threatened in the game's final five minutes, and Lutes tacked on an empty-netter with 61 seconds remaining to secure the victory.
The Aces suffered just their third loss in the last 18 games and slipped five points behind the Condors, who lead the West by one point pending Long Beach's outcome in Boise later tonight. Alaska (26-15-4) will return to action in six days against the North Division-leading Wheeling Nailers, currently 27-14-2 after a 5-2 win over Trenton Saturday. Wheeling will be traveling 4,151 miles to reach Anchorage in time for Friday night's series opener at 7:15 p.m., with Saturday's rematch also at 7:15 p.m. and Sunday's series finale scheduled for 5:05 p.m. All three games will be broadcast live on flagship station KFQD 750 AM and be made available via video webcast for only $6.00 per game at www.alaskaaces.com, courtesy of B2 Networks. Coverage begins 20 minutes prior to the opening face-off.
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