Irving, Hofstrand Score in Condors Loss
March 13, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif., - Mike Hofstrand's goal with 10:51 remaining in the third period brought the Bakersfield Condors to within a goal, but Cory Urquhart's hat trick provide all the scoring necessary for the Long Beach Ice Dogs in the Condors' 3-2 loss in front of 1,961 fans at the Long Beach Arena.
Joel Irving didn't take long to warm up in his first game back from the 7-Day Injured Reserve. Irving stripped the puck from Long Beach defenseman Dave Cousineau at the Ice Dogs blue line and led an odd-man rush with Nello Ferrara. Irving faked the pass in the slot and threw a wrist shot past goaltender Olivier Michaud as the Condors took a 1-0 lead with 3:55 remaining in the first period.
The Ice Dogs responded with under a minute remaining in the frame off of passes by Cory Urquhart and Ash Goldie. From deep in the right wing circle, Urquhart fed the puck to Goldie in the slot, who one-touched it to Ben Knopp at the base of the opposite circle. Knopp's wrist shot banked off the right pad of goaltender Ryan Munce and through the near part of the crease, where Urquhart pushed the puck into the net to the game at 1-1.
Urquhart would carry momentum into the second period after clanking a wrist shot from Munce's right side off the far post and the crossbar before clearing the goal line. Michael Lambert and Knopp assisted as the Ice Dogs took a 2-1 lead midway through the second period.
Long Beach made it 3-1 as Urquhart solidified the natural hat trick with a one-timer from Goldie. Urquhart's third successive goal gave the Ice Dogs a two-goal lead with 7:24 remaining until the second intermission.
With 10:51 remaining in the third period, Mike Hofstrand battled for the puck at the bottom of the slot in front of Michaud. Hofstrand was knocked off-balance, but was still able to flip the puck over Michaud, who was stretched out along the ice at the top of the crease. The goal brought the Condors to within one on Hofstrand's 16th of the season.
The Condors would pull Ryan Munce for the extra skater with over a minute remaining, but the Ice Dogs held off the late attack to hand Bakersfield the loss.
Olivier Michaud earned the victory with 25 saves on 27 Condor shots. Ryan Munce was credited with the loss despite making 39 saves on 41 Long Beach attempts.
Other notes: In addition to activating Joel Irving, the Condors placed Andrew Ianiero on the 7-Day Injured Reserve. The Condors have lost two in a row for the first time since January 28th-31st.
For the record: The Condors fall to 29-23-5 on the season for 63 points. Bakersfield trails Long Beach (32-19-8, 72 pts) by nine points for second place in the Pacific Division.
The Condors conclude a home-and-home series on Tuesday, March 14th when the Ice Dogs visit Bakersfield. That evening, fans who donate a used cell phone or printer cartridge will receive $1 terrace admission.
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