Haines scores with wrong-handed stick in Condors 4-2 win over Bulls

DALY CITY, Calif. – Brian Stewart made 40 saves and the Bakersfield Condors (15-34-2-3, 35pts) earned a split on the weekend with a 4-2 win over the San Francisco Bulls (18-24-1-6, 43pts) on Sunday afternoon at Cow Palace.

D Kyle Haines proved it does not matter what stick you have in your hands. After he lost his in the Condors zone, he took F Scott Freeman’s right-handed stick (Hanes shoots left), collected a loose neutral zone puck and finished off a breakaway through the legs of Bulls G Thomas Heemskerk to give the Condors a 1-0 lead at 14:45 of the first period. With the Condors shorthanded in the final minute, F Jacob Lagace capped off a two-on-one with his 13 goal of the season to make it 2-0 Condors. G Brian Stewart made it hold up, making 12 saves.

The Bulls cut into the Condors lead, 2-1 at 3:07 of the second period, when F Petr Sivak tucked a shot from the side of the net past Stewart. Bakersfield responded 57 seconds later as RW Scott Freeman banged home a rebound off a C Tyler Maxwell backhanded effort to make it 3-1. Stewart came under siege late in the period as the Condors surrendered five power plays, but the penalty kill came up big and kept the Bulls at bay. San Francisco held the shot advantage, 16-2.

San Francisco inched closer once again, halving the lead at 3-2, when Sivak scored his second of the night from the blue line at 16:18 of the third period. They were unable to tie the game though and exactly 60 seconds late C Nicholas Tremblay broke in all alone off a feed from F Jake Morley and beat Heemskerk to seal the win, 4-2.

Today’s box score: click here.

Condors droppings:

This was meeting 10 of 12 between the two sides. The Condors are now 4-6-0-0 against the Bulls and picked up their third victory at the Cow Palace… F Brett Lyon fought D Scott Langdon twice. He now has 16 fighting majors on the season, third in the ECHL… F Jacob Lagace (2g-1a) has points in three straight… Condors scratches: F Peter Boyd (inj.), D Ryan Annesley (inj.), F Nick Prockow, D Francis Meilleur… Shots on goal: BAK – 15 , SF – 42 … Power plays: BAK- 0/6 , SF – 1/9 Three stars: 1. Stewart (BAK), 2. Sivak (SF), 3.

CONDORS IN THE NATIONAL MEDIA
Queen Victoria, an Andean Condor, decided to steal the show at the Condors game on Friday night in Condorstown, eventually jumping into the Condors bench and running down the tunnel. While she and her handler John The Birdman of Las Vegas are fine, the incident has created an international news buzz with the clip being featured on Yahoo!, CNN, NESN, Deadspin and shown on ESPN Sportscenter, Good Morning America and TSN. To watch the clip, click here.

ROPE NECKLACE GIVEAWAY AND BATMAN
Next weekend, the Condors return to home ice to host the Colorado Eagles next Friday and Saturday. Friday night, the first 2,000 kids 12 and under will get a Condors Rope Necklace, sponsored by La Campesina 92.5. Saturday night meet Batman, hanging out in the Condors Photo Booth, courtesy of La Caliente 96.9.

Fun 4-packs are on sale now and if you purchase two 4-packs, you get a free Condors Snuggie! Check out the plan to fit your schedule and budget by clicking here or calling 324-PUCK (7825).