Lutes, Bakersfield outlast RoadRunners 6-5
October 26, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Brett Lutes collected a hat-trick and the Bakersfield Condors staved off a furious third period rally to defeat the Phoenix RoadRunners 6-5 before 3,097 at US Airways Center in ECHL action Friday.
Bakersfield (3-0-1) jumped out to the early 1-0 lead at 4:55 of the first period when Tim Konsorada beat RoadRunners goalie Nathan Lawson with a wrist shot from inside the right wing circle. The RoadRunners (3-2-0) responded with a pair of power play goals to go on top 2-1. Brian Yandle scored his first goal of the season tapping the pass from Reagan Rome behind Condors goalie Yutaka Fukufuji at 6:08 of the first. Sean O'Connor gave Phoenix their first lead of the night when he shot the puck from behind the net off Fukufuji's back and into the net at 16:51 on a two-man advantage power play.
The Condors started their comeback at 11:00 of the second period as Lutes scored his first of the night re-directing Joe Dustin's point shot past Lawson to tie the game at 2-2. Sean Venedam gave Bakersfield their second lead of the game beating Lawson with a slap shot from outside the left-wing circle at 15:22 of the period. Spencer Carbery made it a 4-2 game 2:34 seconds later scoring a power play goal at 17:56.
Lutes added a second goal at 13:52 of the third period pushing Bakersfield's lead to a commanding 5-2 advantage. The RoadRunners would strike for two goals in a span of 26 second to cut their deficit to one. Yandle tallied his second goal of the game deflecting Scott Kelman's shot by Fukufuji at 15:59, followed by Thatcher Bell beating a screened Fukufuji at 16:25 to cut Bakersfield's edge to 5-4. Lutes completed the hat-trick with an empty-net goal at 18:55, before Justin Maiser capped the scoring at 19:28 burying a centering pass through Fukufuji's pads to give the RoadRunners a chance late.
Phoenix out-shot Bakersfield 35-33. Lawson stopped 27 shots as he fell to 1-1-0 on the season. The RoadRunners went 2-8 on the power play while Bakersfield was 1-6 with the man-advantage.
Notes: Yandle and O'Connor each registered their first three-point games of the season...After allowing four goals in their first three games, Phoenix has given up 10 goals in their last two contests...Lutes' hat-trick was his third in a Condors uniform...Bakersfield has won three in a row at US Airways Center and four out of the last five games at the "Purple Palace"...The RoadRunners made several moves prior to the game. Defenseman Jeff Moor was activated from the seven-day injured reserve and made his season debut tonight. Defenseman Nick Toneys was placed back on the three-day injured reserve, while defenseman Chris Murray was transferred from the three-day injured reserve to the seven-day injured reserve. Also, goalie Cody Rudkowsky was loaned to Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League. Phoenix signed former NHL goalie Jamie Ram as an emergency goaltender for the night.
The RoadRunners continue their season opening 12-game home-stand at 7:11 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 3 as they welcome the Fresno Falcons to US Airways Center for a two-game series.
Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office. Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2007-08 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.
ECHL Stories from October 26, 2007
- Aces roll, 5-1 in Fresno - Alaska Aces
- Lutes, Bakersfield outlast RoadRunners 6-5 - Bakersfield Condors
- Grizzlies rally past Idaho 5-4 in overtime - Utah Grizzlies
- Late burst pushes Grizzlies to 5-4 overtime win over Steelheads - Idaho Steelheads
- Stingrays spoil Nailers home opener - Wheeling Nailers
- Wranglers edge Salmon Kings 4-3 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Inferno singe Lynx 3-2 in Shootout - Columbia Inferno
- Ice Pilots Win First of Season, Shut out Reading 2-0 - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Stingrays Use Special Teams to Down Nailers - South Carolina Stingrays
- Jackals Trimmed In Shootout 2-1 - Elmira Jackals
- Cyclones Win Home Opener, 5-3, v. Trenton - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Thunder Trims Roster to 20 Players - Stockton Thunder
- Tomorrow Is Opening Night Versus Alaska - Stockton Thunder
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Charlotte Checkers Announce First-Class Partnership - Charlotte Checkers
- Rudkowsky Loaned To AHL Grand Rapids - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Moon Dog Bobblehead Highlights Nailers Promo Schedule - Wheeling Nailers
- Grimaldi Loaned To Rochester - Elmira Jackals
- Denny assigned to Gwinnett from AHL Chicago - Atlanta Gladiators
- Reading Rookie Goaltender Quick Scores Goal, Gets Win, Shutout - ECHL
- ECHL Today - ECHL
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.
