ECHL Bakersfield Condors

Liebenow Lights the Lamp Late in 3-2 Shootout Win

March 21, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif., - Josh Liebenow's game- tying goal from Kevin Truelson and Mike Hofstrand with 2:06 remaining sent the game past regulation, where Dave Bonk notched the game-winner in the sixth round for a Condors 3-2 victory in front of 3,764 fans at the Rabobank Arena.

Stockton's Ned Havern notched the opening goal just 24 seconds into the game. Geno Parrish tapped the puck from the far point to Joel Irwin along the corner boards. Irwin dished the puck to the center of the right wing faceoff circle, where Havern threw a wrist shot under the left of goaltender Ryan Munce to give Stockton a 1-0 lead.

The Condors worked a four-on-three power play eight minutes into the second period following a Jeff Lang holding penalty. Mike Hofstrand banked a pass off the left wing wall and connected with Dave Bonk, who cleanly centered a pass from the bottom of the near circle to Kevin St. Jacques at the base of the slot. St. Jacques fired a shot high over the glove of Stockton goaltender Jake Moreland to tie the game at 1-1 with 12:04 remaining in the second period.

Stockton took a 2-1 lead early in the third period as Kevin Gardner deked Ryan Munce onto his knees and off-balance. Gardner flicked an outlet pass to Joel Irwin at the base of the far circle, who lifted a shot past Munce to give Stockton the advantage.

On a feed from Hofstrand, Kevin Truelson led an attack through the right wing and dropped a pass to Josh Liebenow toward center. Liebenow quickly wound up for the one-timer and fired a shot past the right side of Moreland to tie the game at 2-2 with 2:06 left in regulation.

Liebenow's goal sent the game to overtime, where both netminders fended off furious attacks by the respective offenses. The goaltending clinic carried into the shootout where both Moreland and Munce stopped each of the first five attempts faced before the sudden death round. Stockton's sixth shooter, Lance Monych, looked for a forehand shot but failed as Munce held his guard on the far post. Dave Bonk put the game on his stick for Bakersfield and connected from the far part of the slot through Moreland's right side.

Ryan Munce earned the win with 32 saves on 34 Stockton shots. Jake Moreland was credited with the loss despite stopping 46 of 48 shots.

Other notes: Bakersfield extends their winning streak to four in a row, including victories in six of their last seven home games. Ryan Munce recorded his ECHL-leading 8th shootout win with the victory. Kevin St. Jacques' second period goal was his 993rd career point, just seven shy of his 1000th. Kevin Truelson set a Condors season-high with 13 shots on goal in one game.

For the record: The Condors improved to 33-23-5 for 71 points. Bakersfield trails Long Beach by four points for 2nd place in the Pacific Division with two games in hand and one head-to-head match-up left.

The Condors open a four-game road trip on Wednesday when they visit the Phoenix Roadrunners. Bakersfield returns home to host the Utah Grizzlies on Wednesday, March 29th.

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ECHL Stories from March 21, 2006


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