Condors Hold on for 3-2 Win Over Gulls

Mar 29, 2019

After allowing three first period goals, the Gulls fought back and cut the lead to a single goal, but it wasn’t enough as the Bakersfield Condors would come out with a 3-2 win tonight at Pechanga Arena. With two points each on the night, Chase De Leo extended his point streak to six games (2-7=9) and Sam Carrick made it three consecutive games with a point (1-3=4).

 

“Obviously, it wasn’t the outcome we wanted, but I thought our second two periods were pretty good,” said Carrick. “We just got ourselves in trouble early with the penalties. Guys get worn out with that. Lesson learned, for sure. It’s on us older guys to regroup this team here, come back tomorrow night, stay out of the box, and get a big win.”

 

Although San Diego was unable to walk away with a win, it was a night of milestones for Carrick. His score on the man advantage tied the club record for most power-play goals in a single season (11), previously set twice by Corey Tropp in 2016-17 and 2017-18.

 

With his assist on the second San Diego score, he tied his single-season career high of 28 assists set in 2017-18 and tied Brandon Montour for third on the all-time Gulls assist list. In addition, he is now just one point away from tying the all-time club record for points (57) set by Brandon Montour and Chris Mueller in 2015-16.

 

For the fourth consecutive game the Gulls were unable to score the game's first goal. Condor’s point leader Tyler Benson passed the puck to Logan Day who was heading into the Gulls zone with speed. Day centered pass to the slot where Marody found the puck and wristed it past San Diego goaltender Kevin Boyle for 12:40 into the game. The score extended both Marody and Benson’s point streak to nine games.

 

Bakersfield doubled its lead with a power-play goal late in the first period. With Scott Moldenhauer sitting in the box for boarding, Marody collected a loose puck just outside the San Diego blue line and took it to the net. Marody faked to his backhand before lifting a shot over Boyle’s glove, extending the Condors’ lead to 2-0 with 1:49 left in the opening period.

 

The Condors were given another power play late in the first as Sam Carrick was flagged for interference. This time it took just 21 seconds on the power play for the puck to reach the back of the net as Mitch Callahan pushed in a puck sitting between the post and Boyle’s skate. The score on the man advantage came with only 15 seconds remaining before first intermission, capping off a three-goal first period.

 

Jeff Glass took over in net to start the second period. The veteran netminder stopped all 20 Bakersfield shots that he faced in the relief of Boyle.

 

The Gulls cut into the deficit midway through the second period with a power-play goal of their own. After a rebound went into the corner, De Leo grabbed the loose puck and passed it to Trevor Murphy just inside the blue line. Murphy faked a shot before sliding the puck across the line to Carrick, waiting at the right point. Carrick took his time before firing a slap shot past Condors netminder Dylan Wells, narrowing the Bakersfield lead to 3-1 with 4:45 still to play in the middle frame.

 

San Diego pulled within a goal with just under eight minutes left in the game, adding another power-play tally. Much like he did on the Gulls’ first goal, Carrick fired a shot on net from just above the top of the right circle, but this time the rebound bounced right into the slot. Wells made the first save on De Leo’s rebound chance, but couldn’t stop Corey Tropp, as the veteran winger scored from the side of the net, cutting the deficit to one with 7:31 remaining in regulation.  

 

“We definitely believed,” added Carrick. “There is no shortage of belief in that dressing room. It seemed like the puck was bouncing all over the place. The ice wasn’t great, but that’s not an excuse. We need to find ways to get the puck in the net. We had some good pressure at the end there but we need to find a way.”

 

With the win, Bakersfield clinched a playoff spot and are moving closer to locking in the Pacific Division title.

 

The Gulls conclude their four-game homestand and 12-game March schedule against the Stockton Heat tomorrow night (7:00 p.m.).