Eagles Rally Comes Up Short in 5-4 Loss to Condors
Oct 27, 2021
BAKERSFIELD, CA. – Eagles forwards Kiefer Sherwood and Dylan Sikura each notched a goal and two assists, as Colorado went 2-for-3 on the power play, but it would not be enough as the Eagles fell 5-4 to the Bakersfield Condors on Wednesday. Condors forward Tim Schaller led the way with a pair of goals, while fellow forward Adam Cracknell earned the game-winner late in the third period on the power play.
An early power play would help Colorado earn the game’s first lead, as Sikura swept a one-timer from the right-wing circle into the back of the net to give the Eagles a 1-0 edge just 1:24 into the contest.
The Condors would knot things up when Schaller camped out at the side of the crease, where he would collect a cross-slot pass and steer the puck past Colorado goaltender Justus Annunen to tie the game at 1-1 at the 9:23 mark of the first period.
As time ticked down inside the final minute of the first frame, the Eagles would strike again when forward Mikhail Maltsev skated to the high slot and wired a shot that would be deflected by the traffic in front and slip between the legs of Bakersfield goaltender Ilya Konovalov. The goal would come with only 22 seconds remaining and Colorado would take a 2-1 advantage into the first intermission.
The Condors would swing the momentum in the second period, outshooting the Eagles 13-4 in the middle frame. They would also tie the game back up when Schaller fielded a rebound in the slot and flung a backhander into the back of the net. The goal was Schaller’s second of the night and knotted up the score at 2-2 at the 8:10 mark of the period.
A Bakersfield power play late in the middle frame would see forward Brad Malone jam home a rebound in the crease to give the Condors a 3-2 lead with only 1:47 left to play in the second 20 minutes of action.
Still trailing by one as the puck dropped on the third period, Colorado would utilize a 3-on-1 rush to tie things back up, as Sherwood lit the lamp with a shot from the right-wing circle to square the score at 3-3 at the 3:53 mark of the period.
Bakersfield would hop back on top when forward Luke Esposito skated across the top of the crease and lifted a backhander over the shoulder of Annunen to give the Condors a 4-3 edge with 5:04 remaining in the contest.
The hole would grow deeper just minutes later, as forward Adam Cracknell would convert on a Bakersfield power play from the left-wing circle to stretch the Condors lead to 5-3 at the 16:40 mark of the final frame.
Desperately needing the next goal, the Eagles would find it on a late power play when forward Alex Newhook tipped a shot from the point into the back of the net to trim the deficit to 5-4 with 54 seconds left to play in regulation.
Colorado would pull Annunen in favor of the extra attacker and Sherwood would ring a shot off the crossbar, but that’s as close as the Eagles would come in the 5-4 loss. Bakersfield outshot Colorado 31-21 in the contest, as the Eagles finished the night going 2-for-3 on the man-advantage, while the Condors converted on two of their six opportunities on the power play.
Annunen suffered the loss in net, stopping 26 of 31 shots he faced, while Konovolav picked up his first win of the season by making 17 saves on 21 shots.
The Eagles will return to action when they travel to take on the San Jose Barracuda on Friday, October 29th at 8:00 pm MT at SAP Center in San Jose, California. Tickets for all regular-season games are on sale now and start at just $19. You can find more information on ticket packages, theme tickets, and promotional nights, by visiting ColoradoEagles.com or by calling the ticket department at (970) 686-7468.
