Even the Alaska Aces' league-leading, penalty-killing crew can't hold opposing power plays at bay every night.

That unit on Saturday night surrendered two power-play goals and the Aces could not solve Bakersfield Condors goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji, all of which led their 3-2 loss at Rabobank Arena in California.

One night after the Aces strafed Fukufuji for five first-period goals and chased him from the net in an eventual 6-5 win, the Japanese goalie and former NHLer shoved back.

Fukufuji stopped 43 shots -- Alaska outshot Bakersfield 45-18 -- and denied all five Aces power plays.

His resurrection kept the Aces (20-14-2) from completing a perfect three-game California road trip. Instead, they settled for a 2-1 mark on their journey.

Bakersfield's two power-play goals marked the first time in 15 games the Aces allowed an opponent more than one power-play goal. The last team to get at least two was Bakersfield, which converted twice in a 4-3 win at Sullivan Arena on Dec. 5.

Luke Erickson's third-period goal pulled the Aces to within one goal at 3-2, but the Aces could not convert on two subsequent power plays, even as they peppered Fukufuji with 20 shots in the final 20 minutes.

Bakersfield (11-19-4), which had lost five straight games, earned a 1-0 lead on Brett Pilkington's power-play strike seven minutes into the game. Alaska countered with Erik Fabian's second goal in two nights.

But the Condors used goals from David Bonk and Andrew Ianiero 70 seconds apart midway through the second period to furnish themselves a 3-1 cushion.

The Aces return home to entertain league-leading and blistering-hot Victoria in a three-game series that opens Wednesday night. The Salmon Kings, who feature league-leading sniper Wes Goldie (32 goals in 37 games) and his linemate, former Aces center Olivier Filion, have won 15 straight games.

Victoria's winning streak is the second-longest regular-season streak in league history, two games short of tying the mark the eventual Kelly Cup champion Cincinnati Cyclones set last season.

Shuffling the deck

With defensemen Lee Green (season-ending shoulder surgery), Mike Gauthier (season-ending shoulder surgery) and B.J. Crum (thumb) out of the lineup with injuries -- and ditto for wingers Bo Cheesman (back) and Lance Galbraith (knee) -- 11 different Aces have missed a total of 134 games with injuries this season.

Find Doyle Woody's blog online at adn.com/hockeyblog

Aces 1 0 1 -- 2

Bakersfield 1 2 0 -- 3

First Period - 1, Bakersfield, Pilkington 4 (Pope, Painchaud), 7:00 (pp); 2, Aces, Fabian 5 (C. Hemingway), 18:23. Penalties - Shasby, Aces (hooking), 6:08; Pilkington, Bakersfield (roughing), 7:49; Kana, Aces (unsportsmanlike conduct), 7:49; Tuzzolino, Aces (high-sticking), 13:07; Fabian, Aces (interference), 16:04; Fabian, Aces (high-sticking), 19:40.

Second Period - 3, Bakersfield, Bonk 11 (Pope), 10:37 (pp); 4, Bakersfield, Ianiero 11 (Bonk, Painchaud), 11:47. Penalties - Morrow, Bakersfield (boarding), 3:03; Pope, Bakersfield (hooking), 7:29; Langager, Bakersfield (roughing), 8:21; Keith, Aces (roughing), 8:21; Erickson, Aces (slashing), 9:33; Bonk, Bakersfield (hooking), 19:47; Frechette, Bakersfield, major (fighting), 19:59; Keith, Aces, major (fighting), 19:59.

Third Period - 5, Aces, Erickson 8 (Martin, Burt), 4:24. Penalties - Truelson, Bakersfield (hooking), 7:31; Graham, Bakersfield (roughing), 11:50; Fabian, Aces (roughing), 11:50; Huculak, Bakersfield (hooking), 16:00.

Shots on goal - Aces 7-18-20--45. Bakersfield 8-6-4--18.

Power-play Opportunities - Aces 0 of 5; Bakersfield 2 of 5.

Goalies - Aces, Lamoureux 16-10-1 (18 shots-15 saves). Bakersfield, Fukufuji 2-5-0 (45-43).

A - 6,258 (9,000). T - 2:23.