Aces waste 5-2 lead in 7-5 loss to Bakersfield

Published on October 28, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Joel Irving scored twice among three Bakersfield goals in a span of 2:58 that helped the visiting Condors overtake the Alaska Aces 7-5 before 4,669 Friday at Sullivan Arena.

For the third straight game, Alaska (2-1) fell behind early, as Andrew Ianiero threw a wrist shot on net that slipped past screened Aces starter Derek Gustafson at the 1:14 mark of the opening frame. Jim Dahl tied the contest only 18 seconds later, scoring on a rebound in his first shift wearing an Alaska sweater. Barrett Heisten and Peter Metcalf, in their second year together as Aces after being teammates on the 1999 NCAA champions at Maine, worked a two-on-one beautifully at the 4:00 mark, with Metcalf finishing off the play for his first goal of the year. Heisten also set up Alaska's third goal, a one-timer by Olivier Filion off the rush at 11:57.

Trailing 3-1, Bakersfield drew within a goal on the power play at 4:08 of the second period, as Sean Venedam, a teammate of Aces head coach Davis Payne in 2000, scored from between the circles. Alaska pushed the margin back to 4-2 when Jeff Smith punched home a rebound at 9:39, and when Mike Scott blasted a slapper past Jamie Hodson with the Aces on the power play two minutes later, the rout appeared to be on, with the score 5-2.

A pair of double minors late in the middle frame, however, set the Condors comeback in motion, with Irving's goals sandwiched around one by Brett Lutes. The second Irving goal tied the game at 5-5 with 1:29 left in the period. Alaska fired the first eight shots on goal to begin the final 20 minutes, but Hodson withstood the charge and Josh Liebenow, who scored two goals in 28 games with Bakersfield last year, beat Gustafson with a wrist shot from the left circle at 7:13. Trailing 6-5, the Aces managed just three shots over the final 13 minutes, and Alexandre Bolduc tacked on an empty-netter with 1.5 seconds remaining.

Alaska finished with a 38-30 shots advantage, but went just 1-for-9 on the power play while its penalty killing unit allowed Bakersfield to score all four of its second period goals on the man advantage. The Aces and Condors (2-2) meet again tomorrow night at Sullivan Arena, with coverage beginning live at 6:55 p.m. ADT on KFQD 750 AM for a 7:15 face-off. Tickets are available at the Aces office, Sullivan Arena, www.alaskaaces.com, and all Fred Meyer locations in Anchorage. Fans also may call Ticketmaster at (907) 562-4800.

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