Aces lose 4-3 in OT, series tied 2-2
April 17, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. â Brad Mehalko scored his second goal of the game 25 seconds into overtime to give Bakersfield a 4-3 victory over Alaska and a 2-2 tie in their best-of-five series in front of 6,006 Saturday at Rabobank Arena.
The teams battled through a scoreless 15 minutes, with the Aces enjoying the better chances, until Kevin St. Jacques set a streaking Connor James loose on a breakaway that the Denver rookie converted by going give-hole on Alaska starter Peter Aubry with 3:34 left in the opening period. Early in the second period, Condors enforcer Ashlee Langdone nailed ECHL scoring champion Scott Gomez as he was exiting the ice on a line change, drawing a five-minute major for boarding and the ire of Mike Lee, who responded with a double minor for roughing, and the rest of the two-time Stanley Cup winner's teammates.
After Joe Talbot was stymied by Bakersfield goaltender Davis Parley on a penalty shot at 5:25 of the second, James flicked in backhander for a 2-0 Condors lead with 10:03 remaining in the middle frame. Ryan Gaucher scored on a rebound off the rush barely two minutes later to put the Aces on the board, but Mehalko banked a one-timer off Aubry's skate with 46 seconds left in the period to restore a two-goal advantage for the Condors entering the final 20 minutes.
Chris Minard brought Alaska within 3-2 at 6:44 of the third period on a power play, but with time winding down and Aubry pulled in favor of the extra attacker, the Aces struggled just to get the puck over the Bakersfield blue line. In desperation, Gaucher flipped a soft wrister toward the net that Mike Scott deflected through Parley's legs for the equalizer with 3.1 seconds left in regulation. But Alaska never had a chance to get settled in overtime, as Aubry had trouble handling a soft dump behind his own net, and James took advantage of the turnover, flipping the loose puck in front to Mehalko, who snapped the rubber top shelf into the open net from the right circle. The availability of Gomez for Game Five is unknown.
The Aces failed to win any of their six games at Rabobank Arena this season but have taken four of the meetings between the two clubs on their home ice this year. Bakersfield, who has never forced even a fifth game in any of its six previous playoff losses, will travel to Anchorage for the fifth and deciding game at Sullivan Arena Monday at 7:15 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM and also will be made available on a pay-per-view basis at www.alaskaaces.com, courtesy of B2 Networks. For additional 2005 Kelly Cup playoff information or 2005-06 season tickets, please call 258-ACES.
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