Condors Move Back Into Second Place
February 8, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
San Diego, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors jumped back into second place all by themselves with a 4-3 victory in the shootout over the San Diego Gulls in front of 5,047 fans at the San Diego Sports Arena on Friday night.
Things got off to a rough start as defenseman Dennis Mullen for San Diego slammed Paul Rosebush head-first into the end boards to earn a major and a game misconduct. Rosebush left the game with a concussion and didn't return. The Condors took the lead later in the first with a slap shot from the right circle.
The goal was his 20th of the season, marking the 10th consecutive season for Cooke reaching that plateau. With less than two minutes left on the board in the first, the Gulls tied the game on the power play. Mark Pederson netted his 22nd of the season on a rebound to make it 1-1 at the end of 20 minutes.
Bakersfield got into penalty trouble during the middle frame, giving the Gulls three consecutive power plays. One of them was a two-man advantage for over a minute and a half. The Condors killed it off, behind some dazzling play by netminder Kevin St. Pierre. Less than a minute later, Jeff Goldie gave the Condors the lead back with his 17th of the season. Goaltender Trevor Koenig was caught out of the net trying to play the puck, and could not get back in time. The second period ended with a 2-1 Bakersfield lead.
Paul Willett extended the lead in the third period, finishing a breakaway off by tucking home a backhander for his 18th of the season. The lead wouldn't last however. San Diego scored twice in the final seven minutes to tie the game and force a shootout. Mike McGhan scored on a breakaway to make it 3-2, and Mark Pederson banked a shot off of St. Pierre and into the net for the tying score with just 2:10 remaining in regulation.
In the shootout, the Condors received goals from Goldie, Willett and Quinn Fair, while St. Pierre stopped four of the Gulls six shooters for the victory. Gulls leading scorer R.J. Enga was denied by St. Pierre to clinch the win in the sudden death shootout. The win snapped a string of eight consecutive shootout losses for Bakersfield.
The Condors return to Centennial Garden on Saturday and Sunday nights. Saturday's game against Idaho features the return of the Blues Brothers, presented by FOX 98.5 and HealthSouth. Game time is 7:00pm. On Sunday, the Condors host the Long Beach Ice Dogs at 5:00pm for Cheer Sign Giveaway Night. Everyone in attendance will receive a Condors Cheer Sign, featuring a full color picture of defenseman Quinn Fair, sponsored by the Bakersfield Californian, Real Rock 104.3 and Coleman Homes.
Individual tickets can be purchased at the Centennial Garden Box Office, 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.
ECHL Stories from February 8, 2003
- Florida Moves Into Second Place With 5- 2 Win - Florida Everblades
- Rivermen Sink Kingfish, 5-3 - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Chiefs Fall to Wheeling - Johnstown Chiefs
- Condors Add Defenseman Swinson - Bakersfield Condors
- Greensboro Beats Greenville, 3-2, in a Shoot-Out - Greenville Grrrowl
- Bullies Stop Storm Again, Win 3-2 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Medak Re-Joins AHL's Chicago Wolves - Greenville Grrrowl
- Renegades Game Night - Richmond Renegades
- Boardwalk Bullies Loan Left Wing Caudron to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- K-Wings Countdown to Face-Off 2/8/03 - Kalamazoo Wings
- Falcons Explode for 11 Goals - Fresno Falcons
- Aces Blitzed, 11-6 - Alaska Aces
- Ice Dogs Fight Hard in Losing Battle to Idaho - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Condors Move Back Into Second Place - Bakersfield Condors
- Condors Beat Gulls, 4-3 in Shootout - San Diego Gulls
- Grizzlies Dominate IceCats - Utah Grizzlies
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