STOCKTON, Calif. - Glenn Fisher made 43 saves and Ryan MacMurchy scored three times to lead the Stockton Thunder to a 5-2 win over the Bakersfield Condors in front of 5,934 at Stockton Arena Sunday evening. Bakersfield had over 40 shots on goal in two of their three games this weekend.The Thunder challenged new Condors goalie Michel Robinson early, and touched him up for a power play tally and a shorthanded goal in the first period. Ryan MacMurchy and Andy Contois scored for Stockton in the period, though Robinson made several early saves, holding off the Thunder attack.
Bakersfield cut the lead in half at 6:12 of the second when Steven Later got his stick on an Andrew Ianiero shot, tipping it past Thunder goalie Glenn Fisher. But Stockton extended its lead with a pair of tallies in the second half of the frame. Contois and MacMurchy both netted their second of the night to make it a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.
The Condors had their chances in the third period with nearly five minutes of a two-man advantage power play, as Stockton took back-to-back-to-back penalties. But time and again, Fisher kept Bakersfield at bay, and he made 21 saves in the third stanza alone. Sean Venedam did beat Fisher with a shorthanded goal in the final frame to bring Bakersfield within two, but it proved too little too late, as MacMurchy added his third of the night into the empty net for Stockton in the final minute to put the Thunder up, 5-2. Robinson finished with 35 saves in his Condors debut.
For a complete box score from tonight's game, click here.
Coming Up: Bakersfield will be back in The Nest on Tuesday, Jan. 8 for a game against the Phoenix RoadRunners. The Condors will be celebrating Elvis' birthday at the arena, so fans dressing up like Elvis will receive $1.00 admission and be invited to take part in an Elvis impersonators contest.
It will also be a CW Bakersfield & 106.1 KRAB Radio High School/College ID Night, where all college and high school students receive admission for $1.00 by presenting their student ID.
Notes: G Michel Robinson made his debut in net for the Condors tonight after being added to the roster on Saturday. The Condors had over 40 shots on goal in two of their three games this weekend, and 123 total shots in the three games.
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