Condors out-muscle Colorado
| Friday, Jan 13 2012 11:13 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Jan 19 2012 11:50 AM
Images
Condors Hans Benson and Colorado's Alex Penner mix it up at mid ice during the first period of their game at Rabobank Arena on Friday night in Bakersfield.
Bakersfield's Casey Pierro-Zabotel gets out of the way of a shot that passes over the left arm of Colorado's Andrew Penner for the Condor's first goal of the game Friday night at Rabobank Arena.
Bakersfield's Ian McKenzie pressures Colorado's Aaron Schneekloth in front of goalie Andrew Penner during the first period of their game at Rabobank Arena on Friday night in Bakersfield.
Bakersfield's Alex Hudson tries to split the Colorado defense of Aaron Slattengren and Jake Marto during the first period of their game at the Rabobank Arena on Friday night.
Bakersfield's Chris Kushneriuk tries to corral the puck in front of Colorado's Jake Marto, Adam Chorneyko and goalie Andrew Penner during the first period of their game at Rabobank Arena on Fridat night.
Condors vs Eagles Condors Goalie #31Bryan Pitton and 22 Josh Van Dyk defend the goal against Eagles player # 23 Aaron Schneekloth.
It only took a shot on goal to jump-start the Bakersfield Condors on Friday night at Rabobank Arena.
Trailing 1-0 and being outshot 9-0 by the Colorado Eagles, Casey Pierro-Zabotel redirected a shot by Erik Burgdoerfer to draw the Condors into a tie with just under six minutes left in the first period.
Bakersfield scored three more goals in the second period, shut down Colorado in the third, and came away with a 4-2 victory before 4,513.
"The little things that everybody doesn't always notice we did well today," Condors coach Matt O'Dette said. "Back-checking the right way, managing the puck the right way --that's how you close out the game in the third, by doing those things. Getting pucks deep when you have to, taking proper angles, not getting caught low down in their end. We were good at all those things and that's why we closed the game out."
It also helped that goaltender Bryan Pitton, who had just two wins entering the game -- the last coming on Nov. 10 -- put together his best performance of the season as he stopped 29 shots.
"He was great tonight," O'Dette said. "He's had it tough lately. He hasn't played as well as he'd like. The team hadn't played well in front of him. Given the opportunity he had tonight he took full advantage. Great effort. A lot of character and heart from him."
The Condors (9-24-4) took control of the game in the second period, thanks in part to a pair of power-play goals by defenseman Alain Goulet, who was playing as a forward.
Goulet scored the first 3:26 into the period on a rebound off a shot by center Aaron Lewadniuk, who arrived in Bakersfield Thursday night from Idaho in a trade for Mathew Sisca. The other came with 2:51 left in the period.
Robby Dee had the other goal midway though the period.
"I like it, you can skate out there a lot," Goulet said of playing as a forward. "It's a little more freedom than being a defenseman so I like it. Just skating around, finishing your checks. I like playing out there with the new guys. It helped a lot. It was fun."
Also making his first appearance for the Condors was defenseman Ryan Annesley, who left Cincinnati at 3 a.m. PST Friday and arrived in Bakersfield just before noon. Playing in just their third game for the Condors were forward Alex Hudson and defenseman Josh Van Dyk.
"It's tough to see guys go but at the same time when you get new guys in guys get excited," Goulet said of all the changes over the past 10 days. "It showed on the ice. We had a lot of energy."
Colorado cut Bakersfield's lead to 4-2 on a goal by Adam Chorneyko with 33 seconds left in the second period.
But the Condors responded with probably their best third period of the season, not allowing the Eagles a shot on goal until just over 11 minutes had elapsed in the final period.
Now comes what has been the biggest challenge of this season -- stacking wins together.
"I just told the guys we can't leave it at one game," O'Dette said. "The last time we won two games in a row it was the first two games of the season. We know (tonight) is the big game we have to follow up with a great effort."
Notes
* Condors captain Joe Loprieno did not play on Friday night and was listed as a healthy scratch along with Parker Stanfield.
* Condors goaltender Matt Keetley, on loan to Syracuse in the American Hockey League, did not play on Friday night in Syracuse's 5-2 win over Binghamton.
