Reign down Condors 4-3
ONTARIO, Calif. – The Bakersfield Condors (23-21-1-1, 48pts) battled back from two deficits but fell 4-3 to the Ontario Reign (15-27-2-2, 34pts) in front of 8,741 fans at Citizens Business Bank Arena Saturday night.
Bakersfield got into penalty trouble early in the contest, and the Reign took advantage. RW Chaz Johnson banged in a power play tally at 7:01 to make it 1-0. The Condors responded a few minutes later with a tally by F Michael Gergen at 10:39, who scored on a breakaway. Shots were 16-12 in favor of Ontario. G Josh Tordjman got the nod between the pipes for the Condors, while the Reign countered with G Mike Zacharias.
The Reign pushed back in front with a pair of quick tallies in the second. RW Alex Bourret scored at 13:35, and F Kyle Kraemer notched his second goal in as many nights against the Condors at 16:49. Bakersfield pulled back within one when F Slava Trukhno knocked in his eighth of the season with just 49 seconds left in the frame, by banking a shot off the back of Zacharias and into the net.
The Condors erased the deficit with a shorthanded goal by Adam Naglich at 3:51, but that wouldn’t last. Ontario regained the advantage with a power play tally by F Jordan Morrison at 8:32, the second power play marker of the night by the Reign. Ontario defeated the Condors for just the second time in nine meetings.
Notes: RW Erick Lizon served the fourth game of his nine-game league suspension tonight… G Josh Tordjman took a minor penalty tonight to give him 31 PIM on the season. It’s the highest penalty total for a Condors goalie since Scott Hay recorded a team record 32 in 2001-02… F Andrew Ianiero left the game in the first intermission to return home after discovering his wife had gone into labor… Power plays: BAK: 0/3, ONT: 2/9… Three Stars: 1. Morrison(ONT); 2. Bourret (ONT); 3. Trukhno (BAK).
Get Tickets:
The Condors head to Boise for a three-game series next week against the Idaho Steelheads on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. They return home on Tuesday, Feb. 15th to host the Victoria Salmon Kings at Rabobank Arena for High School/College ID Night. Puck drops at 7 p.m. and the doors open at 6 p.m.
Individual Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster and the Rabobank Arena Box Office. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with extended hours on game and event days. You can also call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or visit them online at www.ticketmaster.com. Group outings are also available for 20 or more people. Lower level group tickets also include a free Condors hat! Call the Condors at 324-PUCK(7825) for more info.
