Condors Get Redemption, 4-3
October 17, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
Bakersfield, Calif. - It was a penalty-marred affair, but the Bakersfield Condors battled through it for a 4-3 shootout victory over the Fresno Falcons in the last of two pre-season bouts on Saturday night from Centennial Garden.
The two teams picked up where they left off last night, with more fisticuffs and rough stuff. After the first 20 minutes of the game over 60 minutes in penalties had already been handed out. The Condors were dominant offensively for much of the period however, outshooting Fresno 16-8 and eventually taking a 1-0 lead at 13:02. Brad Mehalko's wrist shot from the left circle trickled through the pads of Fresno netminder Brett Jaeger for the advantage after one.
Fresno converted on a pair of power play opportunities to take a 2-1 lead during the second stanza. Dustin Vanballegooie and Dan Tessier scored within the first 5:17 of the middle frame. The Condors answered with a tally by Brett Lutes on a rush at 8:57 to tie the score. Through two periods, over 100 minutes had been handed out with 29 infractions and a whole 20 more minutes to play.
Fresno regained the lead eight minutes into the third with a Wes Rypien goal, who beat Condors G Yutaka Fukufuji short side for the 3-2 lead. After play re-started, Ashlee Langdone and Jon Mirasty looked to turn the tides, squaring off in bouts that swung momentum back in Bakersfield's favor. The Condors battled for 19 shots in the final period but were repeatedly denied by a strong outing by Fresno G Brett Jaeger. Veteran Kevin St. Jacques finally evened the score with just 1:10 remaining and the Condors netminder pulled for an extra attacker. Overtime failed to produce a winner despite a 9-0 Condors shot advantage.
In the shootout, the Falcons failed to put one past Fukufuji, while St. Jacques put home the winner, and Bakersfield prevailed with the 4-3 win. The Condors finished with a 55-24 shot advantage in the game.
Bakersfield's practicing will end this week and the real deal starts this weekend with a pair against the Victoria Salmon Kings. On Friday night, everyone in attendance will get a free Condors magnet schedule, sponsored by KGEO AM 1230. On Saturday the ZOOperstars make their return to Bakersfield, and the first 2,000 fans will get a Condors Olympic Medallion, sponsored by KGET-TV 17 and American Business Machines. It's also an Olympic celebration weekend, with Kern County Olympic medal winners making appearances. On Friday, Gabe Woodward will be in the house and on Saturday Larson Jensen will appear, both dropping the first puck and signing autographs through the night.
ECHL Stories from October 17, 2004
- Gulls Fall To Long Beach, 5-3 - San Diego Gulls
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Mississippi Trims Roster By Four - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Jaeger Stands on His Head to Earn a Point - Fresno Falcons
- Checkers fall to Augusta 4-3 in final preseason game - Charlotte Checkers
- Kettles Returns to IceGators - Louisiana IceGators
- Storm Make Training Camp Roster Moves - Toledo Walleye
- Condors Get Redemption, 4-3 - Bakersfield Condors
- Grrrowl forward traded to Pride - Greenville Grrrowl
- Sin City Sweep: Bullies Slip Past Wranglers 3-2 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
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