Overtime thriller puts Condors in 3rd place
Defenseman nets "Grover-time" winner, Bakersfield returns home Wednesday
STOCKTON, Calif. - D Donny Grover scored just 24 seconds into overtime to lift the Bakersfield Condors to a 4-3 victory over the Stockton Thunder in front of 7,399 fans at Stockton Arena Saturday night. The victory puts Bakersfield into third place, ahead of the Thunder in the Pacific Division standings.
The Condors (30-30-7, 67pts) special teams clicked early, tallying twice on the man advantage to take a first period lead. LW Mark Derlago netted his 29th of the season just 2:40 into the game for the opening marker of the night. At 4:21, C Bruce Graham tipped home a centering feed from F Andrew Ianiero for his 22nd of the campaign. The lively opening period featured several big hits and a pair of fights as well. Stockton (30-30-6, 66pts) managed to hold the lead in shots in the period, 13-7.
The Thunder finally got a shot past G Yutaka Fukufuji. RW James Bates punched in a loose puck at the left side of the crease, on the power play, to cut into the Condors advantage at 11:44 of the second. But Bakersfield responded later in the frame with their third power play tally of the night. D Ryan Mahrle, perched off the left post, slammed home a centering feed for his fourth of the season at 16:23 to make it 3-1 after two.
Stockton pounced in the third period, scoring twice to send the game into overtime. D Sebastien Bisaillon netted his third of the season at 9:20 on the power play. Then C Ryan Huddy picked up his 32nd of the season in the final minute of play with the goalie pulled to make it 3-3.
Overtime didn't last long. Grover jumped up into the play and followed up his own blocked shot by sending his fourth of the season to the top shelf to take the win.
Click here to view the complete box score.
Notes from the Nest:
Next week, the Condors host three games, the first of which is on Wednesday against the Victoria Salmon Kings. That game is Blood Drive Night, courtesy of KUZZ 107.9. Anyone who donated blood at Houchin Blood Bank during the month of March received a voucher good for a $1 ticket to this game. Fans may redeem those vouchers at the Rabobank Arena box office. Doors open at 6 p.m., the puck drops at 7 p.m.
Get Tickets:
Individual game tickets may be purchased through the Rabobank Arena Box Office, which is open from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday with extended hours on game days. Tickets may also be purchased by phone at 322-2525, online at Bakersfieldcondors.com, or at any Ticketmaster location. Season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available at the Condors office located at 1001 Truxtun Avenue or by calling 324-PUCK (7825).
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