Condors overcome 3-goal deficit before falling to ECHL-leading Alaska, 7-6
BY MIKE GRIFFITH Californian staff writer mgriffith@bakersfield.com
There were some great individual efforts, but collectively the Condors just weren't good enough on Wednesday night at Rabobank Arena.
Bakersfield came back from a three-goal deficit to tie the game at 5 before the Alaska Aces scored two late goals for a 7-6 victory before a sparse gathering of fans.
Related Photos
Bakersfield's Jesse Gimblett works against Bryan Miller of Alaska near the goal during the second period at Rabobank Arena.
A sprawling Bryan Pitton gets help from fellow Condor Justin Pender to keep the puck out of the goal after an Alaskan shot.
Condor goalie Bryan Pitton deflects a shot from Alaska's Ethan Cox in first period action at Rabobank Arena.
"Anytime you give up 20-something shots and put up six goals against that team you expect to win," said Condors coach Matt O'Dette. "That doesn't happen against the Alaska Aces. No one does that against them."
The Aces, who were playing shorthanded with five players in the American Hockey League, have the best record in the ECHL at 31-6-5. The Condors, who were trying to win back-to-back games for the first time since opening weekend, are a league-worst 10-28-4.
"We need to eliminate the big plays. That's what we gave up today." O'Dette said. "As a whole we played well but it was big plays, big plays, big plays. Breakaways, odd-man rushes and we didn't get any saves."
Bakersfield goaltender Bryan Pitton was coming off a 1-0 shutout win on Friday night in Utah but gave up two quick goals and allowed six goals on 24 shots.
Alaska goaltender Adam Courchaine, who entered the game with the best goals-against average in the league at 1.75, also had an off night as well, allowing six goals on 23 shots.
The Condors trailed 3-1 after the first period and got right back into the game 2:25 into the second when Tyler Helfrich scored the first of two goals on the night.
Alaska's leading scorer Wes Goldie scored at 8:07 and again at 12:58 as the Aces appeared to take command with a 5-2 lead.
But the Condors battled back as Helfrich scored again at 14:41 and Parker Stanfield cut Alaska's lead to 5-4 with 1:13 left in the period.
Jessie's Gimblett's second goal of the game forged a 5-5 tie 8:38 into the final period but Dan Kissel put the Aces back on top at 12:25.
The Condors went on a power play with 1:33 left and pulled Pitton for an extra attacker. But defenseman Josh Van Dyke's shot from the right point was blocked by Ethan Cox, who gathered up the loose puck and fired Alaska's seventh goal into the empty net with 1:16 left.
Ian McKenzie scored a power-play goal for the Condors with 22 seconds left.
The Aces had a 2-0 lead before many of the fans had settled into their seats.
Garry Nunn opened the scoring 2:15 into the game and Danny Markowitz put the Aces up 2-0 at the 3:33 mark.
Jessie Gimblett drove past a defender and scored his 10th goal on a shot from left circle for Bakersfield's first goal at 13:00.
Jordan Kremyr put Alaska up 3-1 with five minutes left in the period.
"Some guys weren't ready to play and in the first period it was evident who they were," O'Dette said. "To win a game you need everybody."
Notes
* Robby Dee was back in action for the Condors on Wednesday night after playing three games for Abbotsford, British Columbia, in the AHL where he had one goal.
* Wednesday night's game started a six-game homestand for the Condors, who host Ontario on Friday and Saturday nights.
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