ECHL Bakersfield Condors

Condors Claw Back but Fall Short at Utah

January 28, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - The Bakersfield Condors (16-15-5, 37 pts) dug themselves out of three goal deficits twice behind two goals by Sean Venedam, but Kris Kasper of the Utah Grizzlies (22- 17-3) potted the eventual game-winning goal in the second period to hand the Condors a 5-4 loss at the "E" Center.

Colt King opened scoring for the Grizzlies as he worked a one-on-one against Reagan Leslie, who kept the Utah forward's shot outside the circles. King's wrist shot grazed the top of Ryan Munce's glove and sailed into the net to give the Utah the 1- 0 lead at 9:05 of the first period.

Jeff Miles took the puck on a turnover by the Condors and brought it to the near post on a shorthanded attack. Miles tapped a backhand pass to Brad Herauf who directed the puck to Munce. The Bakersfield netminder trapped the puck under his leg pad, but his momentum carried the puck over the goal line to give Utah a 2-0 lead on the shorthanded goal.

Both teams broke out for an explosive second period. The Grizzlies potted three goals past Ryan Munce, including a power play goal by Jeff Miles off of a Chad Starling rebound, and Kris Kasper's deflection of a Treavor Peterson wrist shot from the point. Bakersfield responded with three of their own, including two goals by Sean Venedam and a Mike Hofstrand goal off of a Kevin Truelson wrist shot. The teams traded goals throughout the middle frame as Utah carried a 5-3 lead into the third period.

With 11 minutes remaining in the game, Kevin Truelson fired a wrist shot into the five-hole of Justin Eddy, who glanced over his left shoulder as the puck trickled over the goal line. Sean Venedam and Kevin St. Jacques assisted as Bakersfield cut the Utah lead to 5-4.

Bakersfield would pull Ryan Munce for the extra skater with just over a minute remaining, but the Grizzlies held off the late Condor attack to pick up the win.

Justin Eddy earned the win, making 31 saves on 35 shots. Ryan Munce was credited with the loss, stopping 21 of Utah's 26 attempts.

Other notes: Utah's shorthanded goal in the first period was only the third allowed by the Condors all season. The second period was the highest scoring period the Condors have been involved in this season, with six goals scored between Bakersfield and Utah. Sean Venedam's performance was his sixth multi-goal game this season.

The Condors return home on Tuesday, January 31st to host the Alaska Aces at the Rabobank Arena. That evening, all college and high school students presenting their current student ID will receive terrace admission for $1.00 courtesy of the WB-12 and 106.1 KRAB Radio.

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