IOWA DROPS 4-2 CONTEST TO BAKERSFIELD
Feb 2, 2019-Mayhew, Shaw score for Wild in the loss-
BAKERSFIELD, CALIF. – Iowa Wild (24-15-4-3; 55 pts.) fell to the Bakersfield Condors (25-15-2-1; 53 pts.) by a score of 4-2 Friday night.
The Wild took a 1-0 lead at 16:30 in the first period thanks to the 13th goal of the season by forward Gerry Mayhew. After a power-play expired, forward Will Bitten won a battle in the corner and sent the puck to Mayhew heading toward the net. Mayhew then beat Condors goaltender Shane Starrett (24 saves) short side. The goal was the 30th time this season the Wild scored first.
At the end of the first period, the Wild led 1-0 and led in shots 9-5.
Bakersfield’s Ryan Spooner tied the game at 1-1 at 5:59 in the second period. Spooner knocked the puck past Wild goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen (29 saves) after receiving a pass from forward Patrick Russell on the back door. Defenseman Jake Kulevich earned the secondary assist on the play.
The Condors took a 2-1 lead when forward Joe Gambardella scored 51 seconds later. Defenseman Logan Day ripped a shot from the blueline that was saved by Kahkonen, but Gambardella picked up the loose puck and chipped it over Kahkonen’s glove on his backhand for the score. Spooner recorded his first assist of the season with the secondary helper.
Bakersfield notched its third goal of the second period when Gambardella netted his second of the game at 16:01 in the middle frame. While on a power play, defenseman Caleb Jones took a shot that Gambardella deflected past Kahkonen. Forward David Gust registered his eighth assist of the season on the play.
Through 40 minutes of play, the Wild trailed 3-1 with Bakersfield owning a 22-17 shot advantage.
Forward Mason Shaw cut into Bakersfield’s lead with a power-play goal at 16:09 in the third period to make it a 3-2 game. Forward Joel Eriksson Ek shuttled the puck to Shaw as he entered the offensive zone and Shaw sped past the Condors defense. Cutting across the crease, Shaw went forehand-backhand and flipped the puck over Starrett’s glove for his fourth of the season. Defenseman Louie Belpedio recorded his eighth helper of the year on the play.
The Condors added an empty netter by Gust, his 12th of the season, at 18:54 in the third period to earn the 4-2 win. Bakersfield finished the game outshooting the Wild 33-26.
Iowa went 1-for-3 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill. Despite the loss, the Wild stayed in second place in the Central Division, trailing Grand Rapids by four points.
The Iowa Wild 2018-19 season is presented by Mercy Medical Center and runs from October through April. For more information, please contact the Wild office by calling 515-564-8700 or by visiting www.iowawild.com.