Larson Nets Hat Trick in 6-5 Win
December 7, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska â Dean Larson registered Anchorage's first hat trick of the season in a 6-5 shootout win over the Bakersfield Condors before 2,555 Friday night at Sullivan Arena.
As they had in Wednesday's loss to Long Beach, the Aces jumped to a 2-0 lead early in the first period as Larson scored the first two of his goals 90 seconds apart. But the game turned when Bakersfield, in the midst of killing a penalty that could have meant a three-goal deficit, instead converted an odd-man rush as Christian Skoryna found Paul Willett for a one-timer that sliced the gap in half heading into the first intermission.
The Condors tied the game less than two minutes into the second period on a goal by Jeff Goldie, and took their first lead at 5:57 of the frame courtesy of Jimmy Drolet. Yvan Corbin deadlocked the contest once more at 3-3 with his 11th of the year on another Anchorage power play at 12:33, and B.J. Young gave the Aces a 4-3 edge five minutes later, again with the man advantage. But that lead lasted less than 90 seconds, as Willett scored his second of the night unassisted with 1:06 showing on the second period clock.
Jason Jackman opened the third period scoring for Bakersfield at 13:14, and the Condors maintained that 5-4 advantage until the 3:30 mark, when J.J. Wrobel found Larson to complete the hat trick and force a shootout. The Aces had dropped 10 consecutive shootouts, dating back to a win in Bakersfield at the tail end of the 2000-01 season, but scored on their first three attempts, as Corbin, Larson, and Young all beat beleaguered Condor goalie Kevin St. Pierre. Shawn Byram and Skoryna kept Bakersfield alive with goals in the fourth and fifth rounds of the extra session, but Kimbi Daniels finally secured the two points with a goal in the sixth round.
Anchorage (5-16-1) ended a six-game losing streak and saddled Bakersfield (13-5-1) with only the second blemish on its record over the last 12 games. St. Pierre, 13-1 against the rest of the WCHL and the league leader wins, save percentage, and goals against average, is 0-1-1 against the Aces with a 4.00 GAA while stopping just 41 of 49 shots (.836).
The series resumes tomorrow night at Sullivan Arena with the face-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m., with the first 2,000 fans 14 and under set to receive a free Municipal Light & Power puck. All games are broadcast live on KFQD 750 AM and at www.anchorageaces.com or www.kfqd.com with Jack Michaels calling the play-by-play. Coverage begins 20 minutes prior to the opening face-off, presented by GCI.
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