Alaska nips Bakersfield, 5-4, can sweep Saturday
December 8, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Matt Robinson snapped a 4-4 tie with 13:26 remaining in the third period, allowing Alaska to survive two missed penalty shots and a Brett Lutes hat trick in a 5-4 decision over Bakersfield in front of 5,254 at Sullivan Arena.
Todd Griffith quieted the Military Appreciation Weekend crowd with his fifth goal of the year just 1:47 into the contest, but the Condors would not hold the lead again. 65 seconds after Griffith's goal, Cam Keith tied the game after a Barrett Heisten centering pass glanced off his right kneecap. A determined drive to the net by F.P. Guenette led to the go-ahead goal for the Aces, as Vladimir Novak punched home the rebound with 6:01 left in the period, his first goal since returning to the lineup after off-season knee surgery. Bo Cheesman was awarded the first of Alaska's penalty shots with 3:57 remaining in the first, but came up empty after a Yutaka Fukufuji kick save.
A flurry in front of Fukufuji early in the second period ended with Guenette firing a loose puck top shelf, pushing the margin to 3-1 at the 2:18 mark. Lutes brought the Condors to within 3-2 with the first of his two power play goals at 14:34. Cheesman answered 33 seconds before the break, scoring off the rush with a wrist shot from the left circle for his ninth of the year, second on the team.
Alaska's 4-2 lead vanished in a span of 2:17 to begin the third period. Lutes hammered home a slap shot 60 seconds into the frame, and shortly thereafter, completed his hat trick with a tip on a drive from the point. Robinson's winner came on the first shot of the third period for the Aces, a laser over Fukufuji's right shoulder from between the circles. Although Kimbi Daniels failed to convert a penalty shot two minutes later, Derek Gustafson preserved Alaska's victory with 27 saves, evening his personal record at 5-5-1. After a 3-0-1 start, the Condors have won just two of their last 18 games.
The Aces (12-8-1) move into second place in the West Division, five points behind front-runner Victoria, a 3-2 loser at Phoenix Friday. Alaska has won seven of eight games at Sullivan Arena heading into tomorrow night's series finale against Bakersfield at 7:15 p.m. All regular season games are broadcast live on Alaska's flagship station, AM 750 KFQD, with coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to the opening face-off.
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