Bakersfield Now Unbeaten in Eight
January 16, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
Bakersfield, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors scored twice in the first 5:05 and held on for a 3-1 victory over the Las Vegas Wranglers in front of 7,508 fans at Centennial Garden on Saturday night.
The offense came early for Bakersfield, who scored twice in the first 5:05 of the opening period. Connor James netted his 12th of the season just 2:00 in, and Tony Lawrence tipped home his fifth of the year and second in as many games, on the power play. The Wranglers power play connected later in the period to cut the deficit, but Dennis Shiryaev added his 10th of the season from the top of the crease moments later to regain the two-goal advantage.
After a quick-paced, offensive first period, the play slowed dramatically in the second. The goaltenders were strong, as the Condors Yutaka Fukufuji stopped 10 shots during the middle frame, while Sebastien Centomo stopped 12 shots for the Wranglers. Penalties built up in the third period. The two teams combined for over 40 minutes in infractions while eight power plays were handed out.
Centomo finished the night with 45 saves for the Wranglers but it was Fukufuji's two stops on a breakaway by Adam Huxley in the third that helped seal the deal for the Condors. It gave the rookie his fifth straight win and 14th of the season, the third highest win total in the ECHL. Bakersfield picked up their 23rd win and gives them 51 points in the standings - both ECHL highs.
Bakersfield heads out for their next three matches, all in Idaho against the Steelheads starting next Wednesday. They return home to host the Fresno Falcons on Monday, January 24th for Ladies Night, sponsored by Groove 99.3. On Friday, January 28th against the Long Beach Ice Dogs, the first 2,000 kids 12 and under will receive a bobblehead of Condors rookie All-Star Connor James, courtesy of KGET-TV 17 and Carl's Jr.
Individual tickets can be purchased at the Centennial Garden box office, which opens at 10:00am Monday through Saturday, by calling Ticketmaster at 322-2525, online at ticketmaster.com or stopping by any Ticketmaster location. Season and group tickets may be purchased by calling 324-PUCK (7825) or by visiting the Condors office next to Centennial Garden.
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ECHL Stories from January 16, 2005
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