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ECHL Bakersfield Condors

Irving Caps Comeback in 6-5 OT Win Over Fresno

December 31, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period as Joel Irving picked up the game-winning goal 3:55 into overtime to defeat the Pacific Division leading Fresno Falcons 6-5 in front of 5,697 at Rabobank Arena.

After both teams killed off penalties through the first period, the opening goal would come on a round of four-on-four hockey. Nate Metcalf led a two-on- one on the left wing side and pushed a backhander to Kevin Truelson at the slot. Truelson one-timed the puck on a tap and sent it past the left side of goaltender Jamie Holden to put the Condors on top 1- 0 with 1:02 left in the opening frame.

In the second period a tripping minor and charging from behind major served to Oriel McHugh created a seven minute power play for the Falcons. Luke Curtin took advantage twice in the span of 33 seconds, burying a one-timer from the top of the circles at 4:17 of the second, then firing the puck past Munce from the slot just over a half-a-minute later to make it 2-1 Falcons.

Nate Metcalf's attempt to clear the zone from his own slot was picked off by Fraser Clair, who wristed the puck over Munce's right shoulder to give Fresno a two goal lead with 1:45 left in the second.

Condors captain Sean Venedam would cut the Fresno lead to one on a wraparound attempt, firing at the base of the circle to the left of Holden and past the Fresno netminder's right pad with under a minute remaining in the frame, halving the Falcons lead to 3-2.

Fresno wouldn't wait long to answer back after J.F. Plourde walked a free puck into the Condors slot, peppered two quick shots on Munce's left side and batted a light rebound past Munce's right pad. The third attempt trickled slowly over the goal line to give the Falcons a 4-2 lead heading into the third period.

Bakersfield's comeback would be ignited by Sean Venedam's second goal of the night, which came on the power play as Truelson set up the Condors captain at the top of the slot for a one-timer. The slapshot sailed past Holden's blocker and cut the Fresno advantage pack to one with 11:42 left in the period.

Just a minute later, Andrew Ianiero would come up big, streaking in on the right wing, beating a defender and depositing the puck past Holden to tie the game at 4-4.

Bakersfield took a 5-4 lead late in the period when Venedam walked through a faceoff and poked the puck one-handed through the slot, where Scott Balan fired his shot through traffic for his first goal of the season, giving the Condors the lead with 3:37 left in regulation.

With 1:21 left, the Falcons would pull Holden for the extra skater. The move paid off as Fresno's Pete Fregoe set up on a deflection on Munce's left side and buried the puck to tie the game, sending the 5,697 fans to another overtime at Rabobank Arena.

The extra frame saw plenty of back and forth before Joel Irving mirrored Ianiero's efforts on the right wing, beating Dustin Vanballegooie along the boards and lifting a wrister from outside the circles over the glove of Holden with 1:05 remaining in overtime. Kevin Truelson and Mike Hofstrand assisted on the game's final play as the Condors picked up the 6-5 overtime victory.

Ryan Munce earned the win, stopping 38 of Fresno's 43 shots on goal. Jamie Holden, recently returned to the Falcons by the AHL's Cleveland Barons picked up his first ECHL loss of the year, allowing 6 goals on 32 shots.

Other notes: The Condors' six goals tied a season high for goals scored in a game. Justin Quenenville scored an assist in his first game since October 29th. Bakersfield improved to 7-4 after regulation. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Condors as they improved to 7-1-3 at home. The win was also the first this season for Bakersfield when trailing after two periods.

Tomorrow night wraps up the annual Condors Fighting Cancer Hockeython featuring 27 straight hours of hockey at the Arena and the Bakersfield Ice Sports Center, presented by Bright House Networks and KUZZ 107.9. The Hockeython will feature a Condors legends game at 5pm on December 31st with former Condors Paul Rosebush, Jamie Cooke, Glen Mears and more, followed by the Condors match-up with the Stockton Thunder at 7pm.

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