Aces settle for shootout point, Cameron scores twice

Published on March 3, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Bryan Cameron scored twice, including a go-ahead goal with 2:55 left in regulation, but the Alaska Aces were victimized by two third period rallies and fell in a shootout, 5-4 to the Bakersfield Condors before 3,071 fans at Rabobank Arena on Monday.

The Aces, moving to within four points of the Utah Grizzlies, fourth in the division, moved to 2-1-1 on their five game road trip. Chris Francis and Curt Gogol each had a goal while Troy Redmann made 36 saves, including one on a second period penalty shot. Chase Schaber buried the shootout winner in the seventh round, topping a previously wild exchange of six goals between the teams.

Counterpart Maxime Lagace made 24 saves to preserve the win.

Chris Francis earned his 19th goal of the season, two off his career high, just 54 seconds into the game on a sharp angled wrister from near the goal line, eluding Lagace's shoulder. Jordan Kremyr knotted the score with 2:30 left in the first period on a deflection at the net, produced by Luke Judson's turnaround wrister from the left circle.

Redmann denied rookie Andrew Radjenovic on a second period penalty shot with 6:35 left, remarkably producing a glove save on Radjenovic's backhanded deke. The Aces responded with an offensive rhythm on the next several shifts and Cameron took the lead back, 2-1 with a cross-ice pass from Ryan Walters, to the left post with 2:07 to play.

Curt Gogol's 13th goal increased the Aces bulge to 3-1 at 3:32 on a power play goal, a wrister from the right circle set up along the perimeter from Francis and Tim Coffman.

But Bakersfield responded rapidly with back-to-back goals from Ryan Watson. He jammed the puck through a pile-up at the crease with 8:54 remaining and came back, 2:45 later on a delfection in the shooting lane of Kremyr's wrister from the blueline.

Undeterred, the Aces remarkably seized the lead with less than three minutes left on a two-on-one and Cameron beat Lagace, glove side from the left circle. But Corbin Baldwin's slashing penalty allowed Bakersfield to pull Lagace for a six-on-four attack, and their face-off win allowed C.J. Ludwig to pierce a wrist shot through traffic with 37 seconds left in regulation for a 4-4 tie.

Cameron produced the Aces best chance in overtime, stopped by Lagace after Tim Coffman pounced on a turnover and set him up the net from the left circle.

Coffman and Walters exchanged goals with Watson and Kremyr in the second and third round, respectively and Curt Gogol put Bakersfield on the brink with a wrister in the top of the sixth round, answered by Radjenovic to keep the shootout extended. Cameron's bid in the seventh round was foiled by Lagace and Schaber ended the game with a backhanded deke.

NOTES: The Aces scratched Brendan Connolly, Corey Syvret, Brad Gorham, Tyler Currier, and Quinn Sproule ... Gogol has 15 points in 14 games, spanning back to Feb. 1 ... Alaska moved their road streak in the last eight games to 4-2-2 ... the shootout was the second in three games for Alaska, and the second in a row for Bakersfield ... Francis' goal set a new mark for fastest Aces goal to begin a game this season.

The Aces finish the road trip tomorrow, visiting the Ontario Reign at 6:00 p.m. (KFQD/ECHL.TV) at Citizens Business Bank Arena.

For Kelly Cup championship merchandise, 2014-15 season tickets, corporate sponsorship packages, and more information, please call 907-258-ACES. The Aces can also be visited on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey or on Twitter, @AlaskaAces.

Three Stars:

1. BAK - R. Watson

2. BAK - J. Kremyr

3. BAK - C. Ludwig

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from March 3, 2015


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.

OurSports Central