ECHL Bakersfield Condors

Condors Conclude Regular Season in Style With 5-3 Win Over Alaska

Published on April 8, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors capped the 2005-06 regular season with a 5-3 victory over the Alaska Aces in front of 8,192 fans at the Rabobank Arena.

The Condors took the early lead as Eric Neilson potted his second goal of the season with a wrister into the five-hole of Alaska netminder John DeCaro. Brian Swiniarski assisted as Bakersfield took a 1-0 lead 4:40 into the game.

Dave Bonk made it 2-0 Bakersfield when he deflected a Scott Balan shot from the point. Bonk's goal with just 1:10 left in the first period doubled the Condors' lead heading into the intermission.

Mike Lee pushed the free puck across the goal line off of a Matt Shasby shot to bring the Aces within a goal just 1:58 into the second period.

Over five minutes later, Patrick Wellar tied the game off a short breakaway. Wellar deked a backhand shot past Magers on his right side to knot the game at 2-2.

With 3:10 remaining until the second intermission, Steve Howard led a soft pass to Mathieu Brunelle on the right wing in the Condors defensive zone. Brunelle went coast-to-coast with Joel Irving trailing through center. Brunelle curled to the net in front of the goal line and roofed a shot over the left shoulder of DeCaro and under the crossbar to give Bakersfield a 3-2 lead.

Alaska tied the game again after Corbin Schmidt created an odd-man rush. Schmidt lost his balance, but Novak followed for a shot between the legs of Magers to even the score at 3-3.

Brunelle led another attack on the right wing and carried the puck into the crease with a defender on his left side. Brunelle worked the puck along his blade all the way across the goal line as DeCaro backed into his net to protect the shot to return the 4-3 lead to Bakersfield.

The Aces would pull DeCaro for the extra skater, but Brad Mehalko walked the puck into the corner and centered a pass for Sean Venedam, who deposited the puck into the open net for the final score of 5-3.

Marty Magers earned the victory with 15 saves on 18 Aces shots. John DeCaro was credited with the loss despite 30 stops on 34 attempts faced.

Other notes: After waiting 44 games for his first professional goal, Eric Neilson has scored two goals in his last three appearances. Alaska was held to a season-low 18 shots on net, the fewest shots allowed by the Condors this year. Kevin St. Jacques and Mike Hofstrand were both healthy scratches. With their 40th victory, the Condors matched their win total from last season (40-22-10).

For the record: The Condors improve to 40-26-6 for 86 points. Bakersfield ends the season in 2nd place in the Pacific Division and will face the 3rd-seeded Long Beach Ice Dogs in the first round of the playoffs.

On Tuesday, April 11th, the Condors host the Long Beach Ice Dogs in Game One of the Kelly Cup Playoffs sponsored by KGET-TV 17 and AT&T. All fans in attendance will receive a Condors Rally Towel and are encouraged to "Blackout the Ice Dogs" by wearing black to the game.

Playoff ticket packages are available. For more information, contact the Condors office at 324-PUCK (7825).

Check out the Bakersfield Condors Statistics

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