Hofstrand And Condors Wrangle Las Vegas In Preseason Victory

Bakersfield Back in The Nest Saturday for Rematch with Las Vegas and Cheerstix Giveaway

LAS VEGAS - The Bakersfield Condors emerged victorious in their first preseason game against the Las Vegas Wranglers by the final score of 4-3. Veteran forward Mike Hofstrand netted the game-winner in the third and was supported by an excellent performance in goal by Tim Boron, who stopped all nine shots he faced.

[unknown placeholder $file.caption$]

Las Vegas weathered the early storm, and got on the board for the first time just 90 seconds later when forward Matt Beaudoin beat Condor goalie Yutaka Fukufuji, making the score 2-1. Las Vegas forward Peter Ferraro then tied the game with just 1:43 left before the first intermission.

Las Vegas came out in the second period with renewed intensity, and took the lead for the first time in the game when defenseman Jason Dest put one past Fukufuji with a booming slap shot from the blue line at the 8:48 mark.

With 10:10 remaining in the second stanza, both teams made goaltending changes, and Boron took his place between the pipes for the first time in a Condors jersey.

Condors forward Tyler Feakes welcomed the new Las Vegas netminder Stephan Siwiec by chipping in a goal from the slot, knotting the score at 3-3 after two periods.

Hofstrand put the Condors back in the driver's seat with a short-handed backhand beauty right through the wickets of Siwiec, making the score 4-3 and giving the Condors their final lead of the game.

To access the game's full box score click here.

Notes: Carbery finished the game with three points (1g, 2a). The Condors will play Las Vegas 12 times during the regular season in 2007- 08.

The first 1,000 fans at Saturday's preseason game will receive a pair of Condors Cheerstix. Tickets for the game are $10 for lower level seating and $5 for upper bowl seating. Individual game tickets for all regular season Condors games are on sale now and can be purchased at the Rabobank Arena box office, all TicketMaster outlets, online at www.bakersfieldcondors.com, or by phone at 322-2525.