Speedy Sexton shines for second straight night
| Saturday, Nov 21 2009 11:23 PM
Last Updated Saturday, Nov 21 2009 11:23 PM
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Hats littered the ice 15 minutes and 27 seconds into the second period Saturday night at Rabobank Arena and all but one were carried off by building workers.
But not the large sombrero. That was scooped up and rushed to the locker room.
About an hour later, Dan Sexton skated onto the ice, his helmet gone and replaced by the green and gold sombrero as he was named No. 1 star of the night for the second straight game.
Sexton, coming off a four-assist night, scored three goals as the Condors opened up a 6-1 lead then held on to beat the Aces 7-4 before 4,520.
"This is the first time," Sexton said when asked if he's ever worn a sombrero, which has become a Bakersfield tradition. "It feels pretty good."
The victory was the third straight by the Condors (11-6-0) and sixth in their last seven.
But it didn't come all that easy as the Condors were whistled for seven minor penalties in the third period, three in the first 2:02.
The Condors killed all the penalties (10 on the night) but the Aces did get three goals to make it 6-4 before Mathieu Aubin, who had a second-period goal, deposited the puck into an empty net with 14 seconds left.
"We played two pretty good periods, Condors coach Marty Raymond said. "We didn't play a great third, but I don't get it.
"I'm perplexed (over calls made by referee Shane Warschaw) and that's all I'll say. We need to close the deal better. We're a young team and this is a lesson learned."
Sexton started a four-goal first-period barrage 1:14 into the game when he scored on a rebound. Adam Naglich made it 2-0 at 2:24 and Andrew Ianiero increased the lead to 3-0 at with a power-play goal at 5:23.
Then it was time for the Sexton short-handed show.
On Friday night, he made an incredible move and pass to Shawn Weller, who scored shorthanded. On this night, with Weller breaking down to his right on a 2-on-1, Sexton froze goaltender Sebastian Dahm with a leg pump, then rifled in his second goal to make it 4-0 at 12:24.
Sexton's third goal came when he drove down the slot and redirected centering feed from Weller and made it 6-1.
"It was one of those nights," Sexton said. "My linemates played great and got me the puck. I was fortunate enough to put it in."
Justin Pogge (6-2) stopped 32 shots for the win. The Condors were out shot 15-5 in the third period and 36-29 on the night.
Notes
Bakersfield's Eric Lizon had two fights with Justin Johnson, did almost all of the punching, and suffered an injury to his right hand. Raymond said X-rays were planned to reveal the extent of the injury.
Goaltender Timo Pielmeier (5-4-0) will get the start tonight. Forward Matt Myers and defenseman Raymond Eichenlaub also will be in the lineup.
Defenseman Sasha Pokulok has points in four straight games as does forward Stephane Goulet.
