Aces two points back of Utah, finish four game road trip at 2-1-1

Published on February 18, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Josh Currie broke a 2-2 tie with 1:53 left in regulation to help the Bakersfield Condors escape with a 3-2 victory over the Alaska Aces before 3,329 fans at Rabobank Arena on Tuesday night.

The Aces, closing their four-game road trip at 2-1-1, are set up for a monumental three-game series beginning Friday with the Utah Grizzlies, who sit two points ahead in fourth place of the Pacific Division. This year's Kelly Cup Playoff format awards spots to the top four teams in the division.

Alaska endured the whole game without an injured Bryan Cameron and for all but five minutes without leading scorer Brendan Connolly, receiving goals from Curt Gogol and Chris Francis. Aaron Crandall also came into the game to relieve an injured Troy Redmann after one period and took the loss on 17 saves.

Counterpart Maxime Lagace won his first start with Bakersfield on 27 saves.

Jonathan Lessard opened the scoring at 10:23 with a sharp angled goal from the right circle that fooled Redmann at the right post for a 1-0 lead. But after the Aces lost Redmann and Connolly, they recalibrated when Bakersfield was slapped with their second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of the period. Curt Gogol finished Tim Coffman's centering pass at the goal mouth for a power play goal, 9:32 into the second period for a 1-1 tie.

Gogol earned his 10th goal in 13 games with Alaska.

Nick Pageau, converting off a neutral zone turnover, broke the 1-1 tie just 51 seconds into the third period on a slapshot from the right circle, but Francis leveled the game with 8:45 remaining for his 16th goal of the season, after Lagace kicked away Evan Renwick's bid from the blueline. Francis roofed the rebound from the left circle.

An icing call staged a face-off in the Aces zone, using a timeout to restore energy in their five-man unit. But a turnover along the left boards was pounced on by Currie, skating to the net and producing a scrum. Currie finished the rebound with 1:53 left for a 3-2 edge.

The Aces absorbed their second loss in regulation, in the last 12 games (8-2-2).

NOTES: The Aces scratched Dustin Molle, Bryan Cameron, Corey Syvret, and Brad Gorham ... Alaska's power play is now 13-of-29 in the last six games ... Bakersfield outshot the Aces 31-29 ... Gogol has nine points in the last seven games ... Alaska has scored eight third period goals, spanning the last five games.

The Aces return to play on Friday to launch Aces Hall of Fame Weekend, 7:15 p.m. (GCI/KFQD) at Sullivan Arena against the Utah Grizzlies.

ACES HALL OF FAME PROFILES: ACESdTV

The Alaska Aces are releasing video preview "shorts" on all six inductees of the inaugural class of the Aces Hall of Fame throughout the week leading up to Hall of Fame Weekend. Videos on all six inductees can be accessed on demand by visiting ACESdTV, the official Aces video site, at youtube.com/acesdtv.

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 - J. Currie

2. BAK - J. Lessard

3. BAK - M. Lagace

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ECHL Stories from February 18, 2015


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