Bakersfield stunned by late Utah tally, 3-2
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – The Bakersfield Condors (2-1-0, 4 pts) surrendered a late third period goal and fell to the Utah Grizzlies (2-1-0, 4 pts) by a score of 3-2 on Wednesday night at the Maverick Center.
Bakersfield had difficulties establishing an offensive presence in the first period, and for the first time this season, fell behind on the scoreboard. With two Condors in the box, the Grizzlies capitalized on the ensuing 5-on-3 power play at the 15:50 mark when D Ryan Turek’s slap shot from the left-wing circle beat Condors goalie Bryan Pitton to give Utah a 1-0 lead. The score remained that way after twenty minutes as the Condors were outshot 14-2.
In the second period, Condors F Hans Benson and Grizzlies D Brent Henley dropped the mitts for Bakersfield’s first fighting major of the season. The Condors would receive a power play shortly thereafter and converted to tie the game, 7:48 into the frame, as F Scott Freeman scored his third goal in as many games after a feed from F Peter Boyd. F Jesse Gimblett also assisted on the tally to run his point streak to three games. Utah responded with a shorthanded goal at 16:21 from F Matt Reber after a turnover in the neutral zone to put the Grizzlies back in front, 2-1. The teams skated to the locker rooms with that scoreline as the Grizzlies held the shot advantage, 15-14.
Freeman tallied his second of the night, 8:20 into the third period, after a nifty pass from behind the net by Gimblett to tie the game at 2-2. F Mathew Sisca earned the other assist. However, the Condors would never gain the lead and Utah made them pay late in the contest. With just under one minute remaining in regulation, D Nick Tuzzolino’s hard slap shot from the right point deflected off a body and past Pitton for the eventual game-winning tally.
Condors Droppings:
The Condors surrendered the first goal of the game for the first time this season..Tonight was the first of 12 meetings this season against Utah…Scott Freeman now has a three-game goal scoring streak with four tallies overall…Jesse Gimblett has recorded three consecutive multiple point games..Mathew Sisca has assists in his last three games…Bakersfield recorded a power-play goal for the third straight game…Final shots were 46-27 in favor of Utah… Power plays: BAK – 1/8; COL – 1/8… Three Stars: 1. Tuzzolino (UTA), 2. Freeman (BAK), 3. Donovan (UTA)
Get Tickets:
The Condors meet the Grizzlies again on Friday at 6 p.m. PT before heading to Las Vegas for a single game against the Wranglers on Saturday.
The team returns home on Friday, October 28th when the Idaho Steelheads come to Bakersfield for the first time. The most famous fans in hockey, ‘The Green Men’ will make an appearance and everyone in attendance will receive a Condors magnet schedule courtesy of Fox Sports 970 am and Bakersfield Hyundai.
Ticket packages for the 2011-12 season are now on sale, starting at just $48. The Condors will battle the rival Stockton Thunder in Bakersfield in preseason action on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. Visitwww.BakersfieldCondors.com or call 324-PUCK(7825) for more information.
Follow the Condors all season long, for team news, player moves, promotions, and more on Twitter (@Condors) and Facebook (facebook.com/BakersfieldCondors). Be the first to know!
