Josh Curries Scores in Double Overtime to Give Condors 2-1 Win and Force Game 6
May 12, 2019The San Diego Gulls went to a double overtime, but Josh Currie scored 13:02 into the second OT to give the Bakersfield Condors a 2-1, Game 5 win at Rabobank Arena.
With a third overtime contest, it marks the most games in a series to extend beyond regulation for San Diego. The series is the first to have more than one multi-overtime game since 2011 (Manitoba vs. Hamilton). The series has also seen six overtime periods in a span of five games.
“I’m not sure that I can remember a game that even. I think through however many period we played there, I don’t think a team had more than a two-shot advantage in any period,” said head coach Dallas Eakins. “We had our chances in overtime. A post, a couple of scrambles there, it could’ve easily gone in. They got their chances, but it’s just a tale of two very evenly matched teams. We’ll go home and try to wrap this up.”
Tonight marked the first road postseason defeat in Jeff Glass’ career (5-1) after he stopped 42-of-44 shots. In seven road playoff contests, the goaltender has posted 1.40 goals-against average (GAA) and .952 save percentage (SV%) in seven games.
Kevin Roy scored San Diego’s lone goal in the second period, his second goal in as many games. Since returning from injury, Roy has now recorded a point in each of his three games with the Gulls this postseason (2-1=3).
Corey Tropp and Sam Steel each assisted on the goal. Sam Steel extended his point streak to three games (1-3=4) and co-leads AHL rookies in postseason scoring (4-6=10), and is second in assists and plus/minus (+7). He also co-leads San Diego in assists and is tied for second in scoring.
Bakersfield struck first on the power play as Joe Gambardella got the Condors on the board 9:30 into the opening frame. The play started with a faceoff win as the puck came free to rookie defenseman Evan Bouchard at the point. After Bouchard fired a shot, Gambardella deflected the puck in front of the net and past Glass.
Bakersfield outshot San Diego 10-8 and the score remained 1-0 going into the first intermission as. The Condors capitalized on the man advantage while the Gulls were unable to score on the only other power play chance of the period.
Midway through the second period, the Gulls brought the game to an even 1-1 score. Sam Steel broke into the offensive zone on the right wing and passed to Corey Tropp on the opposite side of the rink. Tropp made a one-touch pass back across the other side of the goaltender to a wide open Kevin Roy leaving Stuart Skinner out of position. Roy finished the play on a tic-tac-toe goal at the 10:44 mark of the second period, scoring a goal in back-to-back games.
Roy’s score tied the game and would end up as the only goal of the period and San Diego outshot Bakersfield 11-9. The Gulls killed both minor penalties that they were flagged for, but were unable to score on their power play chance
The third period was a defensive standoff as San Diego registered six shots on goal while holding Bakersfield to just five. The Condors five shots marked a postseason low for shots by Gulls opponents in any period. Neither team was able to find the back of the net, forcing the game to overtime for the third time in the series.
Both teams traded high-quality scoring chances in the first overtime as each club tried to end the game. The Gulls were almost able to close out the series on a 2-on-1 rush as Roy nearly put a rebound opportunity past Skinner 12:35 into the additional period. However, the overtime ended and game continued as the extra 20-minute period was not enough to conclude the game.
Although the Gulls allowed a power-play goal in the first period, they were successful on the following three penalty kills of the game.
Almost eight minutes into the second overtime, Jeff Glass made the save of the night. Jaycob Megna got caught pinching on the play, and a 2-on-1 rush ensued. Bouchard made the pass across to Patrick Russell for a golden opportunity, but glass made a stellar blocker save and then another on Gambardella’s rebound chance.
The game concluded when Josh Currie fired a one timer Bakersfield won a faceoff in the San Diego zone 13:02 into the second overtime. The play started as a clean faceoff win to the Caleb Jones at the point who passed it to Tyler Benson on the right wing. Benson didn’t take long to give the puck to Currie for the game-winning overtime goal.
“It’s disappointing, but you know what, it’s one game,” said Gulls captain Jaycob Megna. “We move on and go back home and try to finish the series out there.”
The series will shift to San Diego for Games 6 on Monday, May 13 (7 p.m.) at Pechanga Arena San Diego, where the Gulls will have another chance to advance the Western Conference FInals for the first time in club history.