Condors Fly Past Grizzlies And Clinch Playoff Berth, 5-4
March 9, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
WEST VALLEY CITY, UT. - The Bakersfield Condors clinched a playoff berth in dramatic fashion Friday night, as Todd Griffith scored in overtime to beat the Utah Grizzlies, 5-4, in front of 3,580 at The E Center. It was Griffith's second of the night and team-leading 26th of the season. It also moved the Condors into a first place tie in the Pacific Division with Las Vegas.
"The guys continued to battle hard all night long," said Condors head coach Marty Raymond. "It's great to take this win and clinch a playoff birth, but we have bigger goals."
Bakersfield (35-13-10, 80 points) scored first for the first time in five games on the road trip, when Kevin Truelson snapped home a gorgeous behind-the-back, no-look pass by Josh Liebenow to make it 1-0 at 13:59. The short-handed goal was Truelson's 10th on the season.
Utah (21-31-7, 49 points) responded on the very same power-play, tying it up just 37 seconds later, when Andy Sertich finished off a rush by beating Rejean Beauchemin to make it 1-1.
The Grizzlies went ahead 2-1 early in the second on another power-play goal, this time by Travis Rycroft at 2:13.
Late in the second and on into the third, the scoring came fast and furious. The Grizzlies pushed the lead to 3-1 with yet another goal with the man- advantage, when D.J. Jelitto popped one in at 17:08.
The Condors responded 49 seconds later, when Sean Venedam tipped in a Reagan Leslie pass to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Bakersfield tied it 3-3 with just 12 seconds left in the second stanza, as Truelson blasted another long drive past Rob McVicar, with help from a screen in front by Alexandre Bolduc. It was Truelson's second of the night and fourth in the last four games.
The Condors made it three straight goals early in the third when Griffith beat McVicar from a sharp angle off Kevin St. Jacques face-off win to put Bakersfield up 4-3 just 1:18 in to the third.
But back came Utah, as former Condor Joel Irving blasted one in just 36 seconds later to even it once more at 4-4, setting the stage for Griffith's heroics.
Notes: Bakersfield reduced their magic number for clinching home ice advantage in at least the first round of the playoffs to 16 points with the win. Any combination of points the Condors get and the Fresno Falcons don't that totals 16 guarantees Bakersfield home ice in round one of the postseason.
The Condors are now 3-0-2 on the road trip and 5- 1-0 against Utah this season. Bakersfield finishes this three-game set and the season series against the Grizzlies with one final game at The E Center at 6:05 p.m. Saturday night. After that game,
The team returns to The Nest on March 17th for a game against the Stockton Thunder, as Bright House Networks, 101.5 KGFM and American Business Machines present SpongeBob Squarepants and the St. Patrick's Day Jersey Raffle and Auction. SpongeBob will be live and in person to entertain the crowd, plus five lucky fans will win special game-worn St. Patrick's Day jerseys, with proceeds from the auction donated to Kern Adult Literacy Council.
Individual game tickets are on sale and may be purchased through the Rabobank Arena Box Office, which is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday with extended hours on game days. Tickets may also be purchased by phone at 322-2525, online at www.bakersfieldcondors.com or at any Ticketmaster location. Season tickets, mini plans and group outings are also available at the Condors office located at 1001 Truxtun Avenue or by calling 324- PUCK (7825).
You can catch all Condors games live on KGEO Hot Talk AM1230 with Jake Stevens calling all the action. Most games are available to view courtesy of B2 Networks. Just click the "Watch the Game Live" link on the Condors home page. Live streaming for all Condors games is also available via the web site, www.bakersfieldcondors.com.
ECHL Stories from March 9, 2007
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