Pielmeier earns first pro victory
| Thursday, Oct 22 2009 11:10 AM
Last Updated Thursday, Oct 22 2009 11:10 AM
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VICTORIA, British Columbia A forgettable first professional start was all Bakersfield goaltender Timo Pielmeier needed for motivation Wednesday.
After allowing seven goals in two periods in Saturday's loss to Ontario, the 20-year-old was tested early but picked up his first professional win as the Condors topped winless Victoria 3-1 at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
Pielmeier stopped 29 shots and defenseman John de Gray scored the game-winner late in the third period. Pielmeier started in place of Justin Pogge, who was recalled by Anaheim late Tuesday night.
The Condors (2-1-0-0, 4 points) struck first, scoring their first power-play goal of the season at 5:01 of the second period. Left wing Shawn Weller tallied the goal, with assists going to Eric Regan and Dan Sexton.
While shorthanded, Victoria center Adam Naglich drew a penalty shot with 8:22 gone by in the second period, but failed to convert. The Condors maintained their lead heading into the third period.
Salmon Kings' Adam Taylor evened the score at one with 7:27 remaining in the third period. But de Gray's goal with 3:02 left in regulation proved to be the difference.
Defenseman Sasha Pokulok put the game away with an empty-net tally with a second remaining for his team-leading third goal of the season.
Nestlings: Pogge became the first player in franchise history to make the jump from the ECHL to the NHL but it wasn't for long. Pogge flew with the team to Seattle but immediately boarded a return flight to Los Angeles after Ducks goaltender J.S. Giguere strained his groin during Tuesday's practice. After Giguere was revaluated and cleared to play, Pogge was reassigned to the Condors and is expected to start the Condors' next match Saturday at Victoria.
