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ECHL Bakersfield Condors

Lutes Nets Hat Trick, Including Game-Winner in OT

March 22, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors tied the game late in regulation and Brett Lutes completed his hat trick with the game-winner in overtime to beat the Fresno Falcons, 5-4, in front of 4,302 at Rabobank Arena. The win pushes them back in front of Las Vegas by percentage points for first place in the Pacific Division.

"The win wasn't pretty, but we'll take the two points," said Condors head coach Marty Raymond. "It was a great performance from Brett Lutes, and the game gave us a good look at what we need to improve on as we hit the playoffs."

Fresno (33-24-8, 74 points) jumped in front just 28 seconds in, as Brian McConnell popped a rebound of Brett Hammond's shot past Rejean Beauchemin to put the Falcons up, 1-0.

Bakersfield (40-14-10, 90 points) came charging out of the locker room and scored twice in the first 5:01 of period two to take the lead. Josh Liebenow tied the game up with a short-handed tally at :46, when he blasted one past Ryan McDonald after a nice outlet pass from David Kudelka.

Then Brett Lutes scored his team- leading 28th goal of the season on a rebound of Kevin St. Jacques' wrap- around attempt. Liebenow also assisted on the play that put the Condors up, 2-1.

The third period started, and the goals came fast and furious, with Fresno scoring twice within 32 seconds. Jake Pence, playing in just his ninth game as a pro, and having never scored in his four years in college, punched one across the line to tie the game at 2-2, and then Hammond followed up with his eighth of the season to give the Falcons the lead.

Back came the Condors to tie it at 6:57, as Brett Lutes came out of the penalty box and took a feed from Sean Venedam and snapped the puck high over MacDonald's shoulder to even it at 3-3.

But Fresno regained the lead at 9:37, when a shot from the point deflected off Kevin Truelson's glove and past Beauchemin to make it 4-3.

It didn't look good for Bakersfield late, especially after Lutes pulled down Luke Curtin to keep him from shooting at an empty net in the final minute of play. But the Condors moved the puck into the offensive zone, pulled Beauchemin for an extra attacker to play five-on-five, and Alex Kim pushed home a rebound of Liebenow's sharp angle shot to send the game to the extra session.

Notes: Lutes' hat trick gives him 30 goals on the season, a career high. It was his second hat trick vs Fresno this season, having turned the trick at The Nest on December 1 in a 4-2 Condors victory. Beauchemin is now 5-0-1 since joining Bakersfield. Liebenow's goal and two assists gives him 50 points on the season. The Condors have now won at least 40 games in three straight years and four of the last five, and are one win away from 300 as a franchise.

The Condors signed defenseman Jay Langager and immediately put the talented backliner from the University of Lethbridge on the 7-day injured list. Langager played with Sean Venedam on the Greenville Grrrowl ECHL championship team in 2001- 02.

In addition, the team activated Steve Rodberg off the 30- day IR and Scott Borders off the 7-day IR, placed Alex Rogosheske on the 3- day IR, and transferred Scott Balan from the 3-day to the 30-day IR. Alexandre Bolduc missed the game and is expected to miss Friday's game for personal reasons.

The Condors reduced their magic number for clinching home ice advantage in at least the first round of the playoffs to one point. Any point the Condors gain or any game Stockton loses will clinch no worse than fourth in the conference. The Condors' magic number for clinching at least the third seed in the National Conference is now at two points. Any combination of points Bakersfield amasses and the Idaho Steelheads don't that totals two guarantees the Condors the third seed in the National Conference.

Bakersfield's homestand continues Friday with a Pacific Division showdown against the Wranglers, as KUZZ 107.9 and Pulte Homes present Condors Cap Giveaway, with the first 2,000 fans in attendance receiving a Condors cap.

Individual game tickets are on sale and may be purchased through the Rabobank Arena Box Office, which is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday with extended hours on game days. Tickets may also be purchased by phone at 322-2525, online at www.bakersfieldcondors.com or at any Ticketmaster location. Season tickets, mini plans and group outings are also available at the Condors office located at 1001 Truxtun Avenue or by calling 324- PUCK (7825).

You can catch all Condors games live on KGEO Hot Talk AM1230 with Jake Stevens calling all the action. Most games are available to view courtesy of B2 Networks. Just click the "Watch the Game Live" link on the Condors home page. Live streaming for all Condors games is also available via the web site, www.bakersfieldcondors.com.

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