Condors come back for 5-4 shootout over Reign

BAKERSFIELD, Calif.- The Bakersfield Condors (25-23-2-1, 53pts) poured 54 shots on goal and came from behind twice in the third period to earn a shootout victory 5-4 against the Ontario Reign (18-29-2-3, 41pts) in front of 4,811 fans at Rabobank Arena Friday night.

The Reign drew first blood with a goal in the opening minute of the contest. F Shawn Collymore lit the lamp with his 16th of the season just 46 seconds in to make it 1-0. The Condors controlled the tempo the rest of the frame, however, they were unable to beat Ontario G Beau Erickson. Bakersfield outshot Ontario 17-4 in the first, but it remained 1-0.

In the second the Condors finally solved Erickson, scoring twice in the span of just over a minute to gain the 2-1 lead. F Michael Gergen jammed in a loose puck to tie it up at 6:33. Then at 7:42 C Joel Broda fired in a shot from the low slot for his seventh of the season. Bakersfield managed another 17 shots on goal in the period, meanwhile G Brian Stewart stopped nine shots in the period for the Condors.

Ontario fought back in a wild third period, taking the lead twice. Reign RW Chaz Johnson and C Aaron Lewadniuk scored just 27 seconds apart early in the third to take a 3-2 lead. F Andrew Ianiero finished off a 2-on-1 with RW Stephane Goulet less than a minute and a half later to tie it up again. The Reign pushed back in front at 10:09, but with just 1:01 left in regulation, Broda scored his second of the game with a perfect shot into the top corner to send the contest into overtime.

Neither club could score in the extra session, despite each having a power play. And in the shootout, only one player scored out of 10 attempts, and that was Goulet for Bakersfield, guaranteeing the win. Stewart stopped 24 shots in the game and all five in the shootout for the victory, while Erickson finished the night with 49 saves for the Reign.

Click here for the Box Score.

Click here to see Marty Raymond’s post-game comments

Notes:
The Condors 54 shots on goal was their highest since March, 2009, and came just six shy of matching the team record… F Slava Trukhno returned to the Condors from Peoria (AHL) and picked up three assists in the game… D Phil Paquet played in his first game with the Condors since coming over from Florida in exchange for D J.F. David… RW Erick Lizon served the final game of a nine game league suspension and is eligible to return tomorrow… Power plays: BAK: 0/5, ONT: 0/5… Three Stars: 1. J. Broda (BAK); 2. S. Trukhno (BAK); 3. M. Gergen (BAK).

Get Tickets:
Bakersfield continues their weekend series against the Reign Saturday night and welcome Spider-man, courtesy of My 45, 92.5 La Campesina and Farmers Insurance. Spider-man will pose with fans in the Condors Photo Booth. Game time is 7 p.m. The weekend wraps up Sunday at 6 p.m. with Shower Curtain Giveaway, sponsored by Cal Water, for the first 2,000 households. Visit http://bakersfieldcondors.com/web/category/schedule/ for more information and the Condors promotional schedule.

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.