Grizzlies' power-play goal sinks Condors in OT
| Saturday, Nov 13 2010 10:51 PM
Last Updated Saturday, Nov 13 2010 11:02 PM
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A scoring attempt by Utah's Hugo Carpentier (49) is thwarted by the defense of Bakersfield's Joey Ryan and goalie Josh Tordjman in the first period Saturday night at Rabobank Arena.
Condors captain Andrew Ianiero scores on a breakaway to give Bakersfield a 1-0 lead in the first period.
Linesman Todd Owen found the duty a bit hazardous as he got tangled up with the Condors' Erick Lizon in the first period Saturday night at Rabobank Arena.
Bakersfield Condors goaltender Josh Tordjman couldn't contain his emotions Saturday night after Utah scored a power-play goal to take a 3-2 victory at Rabobank Arena.
Utah defeseman Ric Jackman scored the game winning goal on a power play 2:10 into overtime, moments after Tordjman was brought to his knees by a hard shot which got under his pads and into his collarbone.
Tordjman returned to his net after being looked over by Condors trainer Jason Lindsey but apparently was not ready.
"The problem is (referee Rick Looker) told him you're OK, you're fine and he told him he was not," Condors coach Marty Raymond said. "I asked him, 'what are you, a medical doctor?'"
The Grizzlies scored the gamewinner shortly after the next face-off and Tordjman tossed his stick in the air as he headed into the dressing room. The stick landed on the head of a linesmen and Tordjman was handed a game misconduct and abuse of officials penalty that will almost certainly cost him at least a one-game suspension.
"You can't be tossing your stick," Condors coach Marty Raymond said. "But he told the referee he wasn't ready."
The ending spoiled a solid effort by the Condors, who out shot the Grizzlies 43-30 and sent the game into overtime with a late goal in regulation.
Trailing 2-1, Raymond pulled Tordjman for an extra attacker while on a power play and Mark Magnowski got the tying goal with 2:10 remaining.
"It was a good game," Raymond said. "I think we outworked them, but right now we aren't getting many breaks. We had a good work ethic and we'll take the point (for getting to overtime)."
After yielding the first goal in seven straight games, the Condors turned the tables and took the early lead for the first time since Oct. 29.
Andrew Ianiero broke in alone on Andrew Engelage, moved the puck from backhand to forehand then slid a backhander past Engelage for a 1-0 lead 3:31 into the game.
The Condors had multiple opportunities to extend their lead in the second period, but it was the Grizzlies who struck twice to take a 2-1 lead.
Bakersfield's power play, ranked next-to-last in the league, continued to struggle as the Grizzlies tied the game with a short-handed goal 6:56 into the second. It was the second short hander given up in this three-game series and fourth of the season, second most in the league.
Those power-play struggles continued as another Utah penalty gave the Condors extended man-advantage time, including 34 seconds of a two-man advantage, which they failed to convert.
Another power play at 13:24 failed to convert as did some chances afterward.
Utah then struck with just under three minutes left in the period when Paul Crowder chipped the puck over a prone Tordjman, who had made a couple of saves following a Bakersfield turnover.
Notes
Forward Pascal Morency was placed on the 21-day injured reserve list due to a knee injury suffered early in the third period Friday night. "It's frustrating, it's the way it's going," Raymond said of yet another early-season injury. Raymond said he expects Morency, who has six goals and 50 penalty minutes in nine games, to be out 4-6 weeks. "I'll know more on Monday (when an MRI is scheduled)," said Morency, who was on crutches.
The Condors continue their eight-game home stand with the annual business person special and field trip game for Kern County school children against Victoria at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
