Condors win fourth straight with shootout thriller over Utah
March 30, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - G Yutaka Fukufuji made 49 saves, plus three in the shootout, to lead the Bakersfield Condors to a 4-3 shootout victory against the Utah Grizzlies in front of 6,607 fans at Rabobank Arena Saturday night. With their fourth straight win, the Condors maintain sole possession of 3rd place in the Pacific Division and 7th place in the National Conference despite Phoenix and Stockton both winning tonight.
The Condors (24-36-9, 57 points) opened the scoring when a D Jason Goulet wrist shot deflected off a Utah defenseman into the net for Goulet's first goal of the season, putting Bakersfield up 1-0 5:56 into the first. Bakersfield and Utah (30-28-10, 70 points) poured 18 and 17 shots on goal, respectively, in the first period, but the score remained just 1-0 through one.
Six minutes into the second period, Utah LW Ryan Kinasewich slipped the puck past G Yutaka Fukufuji tying the game at 1-1. In addition to the score, both teams were also tied with 28 shots on goal through two periods.
The Grizzlies broke the tie 4:57 into the third period when LW Scott Burt beat Fukufuji with a one-timer from the slot. However, the Condors came roaring back with a pair of goals from LW Mark Derlago and LW Brett Lutes to regain the lead, 3-2. Only 59 seconds after Lutes' goal, Utah responded with a tally from RW Olivier Labelle to tie the game and force overtime.
Neither team lit the lamp in overtime despite both having a power play opportunity, and the game went to a shootout.
C Tim Konsorada, Lutes and Derlago each scored in the shootout, while Fukufuji stopped three of the five Utah shooters, and 49 of 52 shots overall, for his 16th win of the year.
Notes from The Nest:
C Steve Slonina extended his points streak to four games with an assist tonight, and has 2g-4a over that stretch... LW Mark Derlago recorded 1g-1a and a shootout goal tonight, and now has 1g-2a in two games since returning from Manitoba... F Tylor Michel, a rookie out of Wayne State University, made his professional debut for the Condors tonight. Michel and fellow rookie F Ryan Salvis, playing in just his second pro game, recorded their first career assists tonight... Former Condors G Danny Taylor, who played in Bakersfield in 2006-07, made his NHL debut today for the Los Angeles Kings. Taylor played the third period of the Kings 7-2 loss to Dallas, and surrendered two goals on 10 shots.
Game-worn Country Music Jerseys sell big for charity:
The Country Music Jerseys Off Our Backs Auction brought in a grand total of $31,600 to benefit the Valley Achievement Center tonight, coming up just $600 shy of the highest all-time total. F Andrew Ianiero's game-worn jersey went for the night's highest individual total at $5,100, just $100 short of the all-time individual high. Five authentic Country Music jerseys were also raffled off to lucky fans in attendance.
Upcoming Games:
The Condors wrap up the home portion of their regular season on Monday, March 31 for March Monday Madness and Blood Drive Night. Anyone who donated blood during the month of March at an area Houchin location received a voucher good for a $1 ticket to the game. Also, the first 2,000 fans will get a Colonel Claw'd magnet, the fifth of the five-piece collector's series.
Doors open at 6 p.m., puck drops at 7 p.m. both nights.
Individual game tickets are now on sale and may be purchased through the Rabobank Arena Box Office, which is open from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. - 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 available at the Condors office located at 1001 Truxtun Avenue or by calling 324-PUCK (7825).
ECHL Stories from March 30, 2008
- Falcons Clinch Home Ice in First Round with OT Win - Fresno Falcons
- Reading Stopped By Cincy, 3-2 - Reading Royals
- Birthday Boy Brodeur Makes 29 Saves in 2-1 WIN over Mississippi - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Pensacola Scores Two Power-Play Goals 33 Seconds Apart In Second, Wins 2-1 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Chiefs eradicate Devils - Johnstown Chiefs
- Bombers Clinch Second Consecutive Playoff Berth! - Dayton Bombers
- Cyclones Pick Up 3-2 Comeback Win - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Jackals win 3-1; magic number for home ice at one - Elmira Jackals
- Trenton Denied by Johnstown 5-0 - Trenton Devils
- Bombers struggle with Elmira in 3-1 loss, still clinch playoffs - Dayton Bombers
- March Monday Madness and Blood Drive Night close out Condors regular season - Bakersfield Condors
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- RoadRunners Hold Off Aces 3-2 In Series Finale - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Alaska loses 3-2 to Phoenix, plays for West title next week - Alaska Aces
- Condors win fourth straight with shootout thriller over Utah - Bakersfield Condors
- Thunder engineer third period comeback in front of fifth sellout crowd of the year - Stockton Thunder
- Grizzlies Fight Back Twice, Fall 4-3 in Shootout - Utah Grizzlies
- Steelheads Stunned By Falcons 4-3 In Shootout - Idaho Steelheads
- Falcons Rally for 4-3 Shootout Win over Idaho - Fresno Falcons
- Inferno earn point in OT loss - Columbia Inferno
- Thunder Surpasses 230,000 Fans For Second Straight Year - Stockton Thunder
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
