Condors Force Game Five with Overtime Victory
Published on April 17, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
Bakersfield, Calif. - Brad Mehalko's second goal of the game just 25 seconds into overtime led to a 4-3 Game 4 victory for the Bakersfield Condors over the Alaska Aces at the Rabobank Arena on Saturday night. A Condors playoff record 6,006 fans
Davis Parley had a strong opening period between the pipes for the Condors, kicking out 12 shots in the first 20 minutes. He stopped Mike Lee on a partial break late in the period, and moments later the Condors took the lead. Connor James took a perfect lead pass from Brad Mehalko and tucked home his second goal of the series.
The second period was wild, with hits, shots and goals. First, the Aces resident NHLer Scott Gomez took a shot from Ashlee Langdone into an open Alaska players bench, sparking tempers on both sides. The Aces ended up with three minutes of power play time moments later and the Condors killed it off, followed immediately by James' second goal of the night. Alaska answered just two minutes later to cut it to 2-1. Bakersfield netted a power play goal from Brad Mehalko in the final minute of the frame to take a 3-1 lead to the dressing room. Davis Parley turned aside 31 shots through 40 minutes, including a penalty shot by Joe Talbot at 5:25 of the second period. Gomez would not return.
The Aces pulled within a goal at 6:44 of the third period on a two-man advantage. Chris Minard netted his second of the series on the power play to make it close. In the final minute, with the goaltender pulled, Bakersfield failed to clear the zone and Mike Scott chipped a loose puck under Parley for the equalizer with just three seconds left in the game.
Overtime didn't take long. James forced the goaltender Peter Aubry to turn the puck over behind his own net. Mehalko found the handle on it along the goal line, skated out to the bottom of the right circle and lifted home a backhander for his second of the game just 25 seconds into the extra session. Bakersfield is 3-1 all-time in playoff overtimes - all at the Rabobank Arena.
The decisive Game 5 of this best-of-five series shifts to Anchorage on Monday night at 8:15 p.m. (PST). The game can be heard live on KGEO AM 1230 and online at www.bakersfieldcondors.com. Fans can watch Game 5 at the Rabobank Arena on the big screen by bringing two canned food items for donation. Should Bakersfield advance to the West Division Finals against the winner of the Long Beach/Idaho series, their first home game is expected to be Game 3 on Wednesday, April 27th.
Individual tickets can be purchased at the Rabobank Arena box office, which opens at 10:00am Monday through Saturday, by calling Ticketmaster at 322-2525, online at ticketmaster.com or stopping by any Ticketmaster location. Season and group tickets may be purchased by calling 324-PUCK (7825) or by visiting the Condors office at the Rabobank Arena.
ECHL Stories from April 17, 2005
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- All Aboard the Brust Train...Reading Beats Toledo in Game 3, 2-0 - Reading Royals
- Titans Close Out Bullies 4-3 In Overtime - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Checkers on fire - Charlotte Checkers
- Mississippi Looking To Prolong Season - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Macri Bolsters Bullies Blue Line - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Oh Barry!...Brust Shuts Out Toledo For 1-0 Win - Reading Royals
- Aces lose 4-3 in OT, series tied 2-2 - Alaska Aces
- Condors Force Game Five with Overtime Victory - Bakersfield Condors
- Gladiators Defeat Sea Wolves 8-1 In Game 3 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Steelheads come up short, lose 4-2 to Ice Dogs - Idaho Steelheads
- Gladiators Rout âWolves, 8-1 - Atlanta Gladiators
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