Late Heroics Vault Fresno Past Condors 4-3
October 16, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
Fresno, Calif. - Charles Simard's slapper just 1:50 into overtime gave the Fresno Falcons a come-from- behind 4-3 victory over the visiting Bakersfield Condors on Friday night in ECHL pre-season action.
The Condors came out of the game firing, owning a 15-7 lead in shots after one. The crowd's first chance to get on their feet came when Bakersfield's Jon Mirasty, the ECHL's major penalty leader a season ago, squared off with rookie Jack Redlick in an even tilt just under three minutes in. The Condors preserved a scoreless tie through three first period Fresno power plays, and then took the lead on a power play of their own. Former Falcon Brad Mehalko won the faceoff, controlled the puck and help set up a tic-tac-toe goal for Mike Hofstrand in front of the net. The period ended 1-0 Bakersfield.
The second period was a bit more eventful. Fresno took the lead by scoring twice in the span of one minute, nine seconds, despite being outshot 20- 10 at the time. After that, things heated up. During the period, 18 penalties for 59 minutes were taken, including a pair of fights and several scrums. Bakersfield tied the game on a power play, with Lars Peder Nagel redirecting a shot from the point at 10:48. Paul Rosebush scored a contested tally on a breakaway at 14:30 to regain the lead for the Condors, who went into the dressing room with a 3-2 lead after two. Sean Fields was replaced in the Bakersfield net by Philippe DeRouville at the midway point after turning aside 11 of 13 shots.
Perhaps calmed by the second intermission, the two teams skated in a defensive battle during the third. Fresno went nearly 12 minutes into the period before they even registered a shot while Bakersfield failed to extend the lead on four additional power plays in the frame. With just 38.9 seconds left in regulation, the Falcons tied the game as Michael Kiesman chipped a rebound past a sprawled out DeRouville.
Overtime lasted less than two minutes, as Charles Simard sent a rocket from the blueline past DeRouville to give the Falcons a 4-3 win.
The Condors host the Fresno Falcons for the second half of the pre-season double dip on Saturday night at Centennial Garden. Presented by Real Rock 93.1, the puck drops at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for just $10 in the lower level and $5 in the upper level.
Individual tickets can be purchased at the Centennial Garden box office, which opens at 10:00am Monday through Saturday, by calling Ticketmaster at 322-2525, online at ticketmaster.com or stopping by any Ticketmaster location. Individual regular season tickets will also go on sale on Saturday through the Garden box office, which opens at 10:00 a.m., or through all Ticketmaster locations. 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 October 16, 2004
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- Checkers top Augusta, 4-3 - Charlotte Checkers
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- Newbury and Keith assigned from Toronto - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Lynx Yard Sale and Job Fair This Tuesday - Augusta Lynx
- Ice Dogs Beat San Diego, 3-1, In Preseason Opener - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Late Heroics Vault Fresno Past Condors 4-3 - Bakersfield Condors
- Gulls Fall To Ice Dogs In Preseason Opener, 3-1 - San Diego Gulls
- Falcons Win in Overtime, 4-3 - Fresno Falcons
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