Conference Finals vs. Alaska, Game 3 preview

 Condors Countdown with Troy Mann

The Bakersfield Condors and Alaska Aces play Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals after splitting the first two games of the series in Anchorage last weekend. It is the third time the Condors and Aces have met in the postseason, but the first time in the Western Conference Finals. This is the 7th appearance in 11 seasons for the Aces and the first for Bakersfield.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Game 1 featured a comeback for the Aces, who trailed 1-0 after two periods. In the third period, LW Evan Trupp and C Jordan Morrison each potted goals to give Alaska a 1-0 series lead. LW Chris Collins had the lone goal for the Condors in the second period.

Game 2 again saw the Aces erase a third period deficit, trailing 2-0 after two frames thanks to goals from LW Evan Trupp and RW Brendan Connolly. However, the Condors scored the overtime goal just under three minutes into the extra session, off the stick of C Gary Steffes.

HOW THEY GOT HERE
Bakersfield
Defeated (3) Utah in the first round and (7) Stockton in the second round to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Both series were won, 4 games to 1.

Alaska
Swept (8) Las Vegas in the first round and took care of (4) Idaho five games to get to the Western Conference Finals.

CONDORS NOTES
C Joel Broda is one goal shy of tying the Condors single season playoff record (7)… Bakersfield has scored the first goal in nine of their 12 playoff games… Troy Mann is 17-8 as a head coach in the Kelly Cup Playoffs (.680 win pct) with two trips to the Conference Finals… LW Chris Collins has goals in back-to-back games and C Matt Thurber has an assist in back-to-back games… D Joey Leach leads the ECHL with a +12… The Condors are among the least penalized in the league in the postseason, surrendering two or less power plays in 5 of their 12 games and only two players have hit double digits in penalty minutes.

ACES NOTES
F Nick Mazzolini is the second leading scorer in the playoffs. He had 16 points (4g-12a) in the first nine playoff games prior to the Conference Finals… G Gerald Coleman leads the ECHL with a 1.46 GAA… D John Ramage is the leading defensive scorer in the ECHL with 8 points (2g-6a). His father, Rob Ramage, was a first overall draft pick (Colorado Rockies) in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft… The Aces power play ranks 2nd in the ECHL in the playoffs at 20%.

Come to Condorstown hungry and check out what’s on the Club Room and Tap Room menus!