Condors Knocked From First-Place Perch By Wranglers, 6-3
March 23, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors dropped the first game of the head-to-head showdown for first place in the Pacific Division to the Las Vegas Wranglers, 6-3, Friday night, in front of 8,325 at Rabobank Arena. It was the fourth largest crowd of the season, and the seventh best all-time.
"That's 11 games in a row we've had a bad first period, and that was the game," said Head Coach Marty Raymond.
The first period was a wild west shootout, with the Wranglers (39-12-14, 92 points) getting the better of it on the scoreboard. For the fourth straight game, Bakersfield's opponent scored first, when Derek Edwardson stuffed one past Jamie Hodson to make it 1- 0, with assists going to Steve Crampton and Shawn Limpright.
Bakersfield (40-15-10, 90 points) came back just 1:19 later to tie it on the power-play. Alex Kim took a pass from Steve Rodberg and glided to the slot, and when nobody picked him up, he snapped one that made it through Mike McKenna to square the game at 1-1.
Las Vegas regained the lead, 2-1, at 10:11 when Edwardson notched his second of the night with help from Limpright again.
Back came the Condors again with the man- advantage to even it 2-2. This time it was Rodberg lighting the lamp, when his blast from the right point deflected off Las Vegas defenseman Aaron Power and into the cage. Kim and Sean Venedam assisted on Rodberg's sixth of the year, in just his second game since returning from an injured shoulder.
But just 13 seconds later, Steve Crampton raced down the right side and slapped one past Hodson to give the Wranglers their third lead of the night, 3-2, with Edwardson and Mike McBain credited with helpers.
Las Vegas closed out the opening stanza scoring barrage when Adam Cracknell put the puck up high and into the twine to stretch the advantage to 4-2.
The second period was dominated by the Wranglers and their efforts finally paid off at 17:59, when Edwardson banged home a loose puck for his hat trick to make it 5-2.
Las Vegas added another to make it 6-2 at 8:34 as Nick Anderson scored his 11th of the season.
Andrew Ianiero scored his 18th of the season on the power-play at 17:15 with assists to Kevin Truelson and Josh Liebenow to close out the scoring.
To access the game's full box score click here.
Notes: Bakersfield goes to Las Vegas Tuesday for a 7:05 game, the back end of this home- and-home series. The season series now stands at three wins for each team.
The Condors acquired former Phoenix defenseman Mat Snesrud off waivers earlier in the week, and placed him on the suspended list today.
The Condors magic number for clinching home ice advantage in at least the first round of the playoffs remained at one point, as Stockton beat Utah, 5-1. Any point the Condors gain or any game the Thunder loses will clinch no worse than fourth in the conference. The Condors' magic number for clinching at least the third seed in the National Conference remained at two points as Idaho beat Alaska in a shootout. Any combination of points Bakersfield amasses and the Steelheads don't that totals two guarantees the Condors the third seed in the National Conference.
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