Condors lose in final minute
| Wednesday, Mar 10 2010 11:27 AM
Last Updated Wednesday, Mar 10 2010 11:49 PM
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Las Vegas Wrangler Jason Schwarz tries to wrap up Condors' Nick Kemp in frnt of the Wrangler's net during the first period of their game at Rabobank Arena on Wednesday night in Bakersfield.
Bakersfield's Jason Dale watches a Condors shot on goal deflect off the shoulder of Wranglers goalie Jimmy Spratt during the first period of their game at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield on Wednesday night.
Bakersfield's Adam Naglich hurries Las Vegas' Craig Switzer deep in the Wrangler's zone during the first period of their game at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield on Wednesday night.
Las Vegas Wrangler Jason Schwarz tries to wrap up Condors' Nick Kemp in frnt of the Wrangler's net during the first period of their game at Rabobank Arena on Wednesday night in Bakersfield.
Bakersfield's Stephane Goulet tries to corral the puck in front of the Wrangler's net as Las Vega goalie Jimmy Spratt tries to get into position during the first period of their game at Rabobank Arena on Wednesday night.
Bakersfield's Jason Dale watches a Condors shot on goal deflect off the shoulder of Wranglers goalie Jimmy Spratt during the first period of their game at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield on Wednesday night.
Missed opportunities, too many penalties and a bad bounce.
That's what Condors coach Marty Raymond said added up to a last-minute 3-2 loss to the Las Vegas Wranglers Wednesday night at Rabobank Arena.
Fans in attendance may have leaned more on a negated goal by Erick Lazon, which would have made it 3-1 in favor of the Condors 3:24 into the third period.
Instead, referee Andy Thiessen called Stephane Goulet for interference for knocking the stick out of a defender's hand, and 38 seconds later, the Wranglers tied the game on a power-play goal by Adam Miller.
With the final minutes of the game ticking off, the Wranglers fired a long shot that sailed high and wide. But the puck took a long bounce off the boards and went right to Alex Bourett, who fired in the game-winner with 47 seconds remaining.
"That's the nature of the game," Raymond said. "We missed too many opportunities. When you don't bury your chances the opposition comes back and scoredsand takes the game from you."
While Raymond said he didn't agree with the Goulet penalty, he maintained the Condors were their own worst enemy.
"We have only ourselves to blame," he said. "We beat ourselves. We had a chance to score goals and didn't do it. A lot of guys had shots at an open net and didn't score. Plus, we took way too many penalties."
The loss kept the Condors seven points ahead of idle Stockton for first place in the ECHL Pacific Division. The Wranglers are third, eight points back.
"We had a chance to get at least a point (with an overtime game) and those points are really important at this time of the year," Raymond said.
The Condors head to Las Vegas on Friday to begin a set of three games in three days.
"We've put the pressure on ourselves," Raymond said. "We need to win two out of three games this weekend and it's not going to be easy."
The Condors scored 50 seconds into the game on a simple chip-in play as an aggressive forecheck behind the net by Adam Naglich led to a shot by Andrew Ianiero and a rebound goal by Naglich.
Bakersfield made it 2-0 at 16:16 when Gino Guyer raced to the boards to corral a loose puck, turned and fired a shot from the right circle through a maze of bodies.
The Wranglers cut the lead in half 6:36 into the second period when Greg Collins skated from behind the net and scored from the slot.
Notes
The Condors signed forward Josh Jasek-Jepson, activated forward Matt McCue from IR and placed defensemen Chris Allen and Chris Brooks on IR. Jasek-Jepson played two games for the Condors last month.
The Condors will find out today if they might be getting any players now up in the American Hockey League back any day soon as the AHL Clear Day rosters (22-man lists for the rest of the season and playoffs) were turned in on Wednesday. However, teams can still use players not on the list when they have three or more players called up to the NHL or injured.
