Gulls Erase Two-Goal Deficit and Earn Point in 4-3 Shootout Loss
Dec 14, 2018The Gulls stormed back in the third period to erase a two-goal deficit and force a shootout, but the Bakersfield Condors picked up a 4-3 victory in the shootout. Kalle Kossila had a goal and an assist in the late comeback effort for his third multi-point game this season.
Bakersfield opened the scoring 3:35 into the first period as Luke Esposito took the puck from behind the net and snuck it past Gulls netminder Jared Coreau on a wraparound attempt. Esposito’s goal marked his first of the season and second of his career. Logan Day picked up the lone assist on the play.
Giovanni Fiore answered the Condors score with his sixth goal of the season at the 7:46 mark of the same period. The goal was made possible by Sam Carrick who stole the puck from Bakersfield on the forecheck and passed it to Matt Berry behind the net. Berry held the puck for a second before dishing it across the crease to Fiore for a one-timer that beat Condors goaltender Shane Starrett.
Berry’s primary assist was his first helper of the season, but not the first of his career. Berry also played in 15 games with San Diego in the 2015-16 season, recording 3-1=4 points with the club.
Cooper Marody of the Condors stole the lead back 13:33 into the first after he split the defensemen for a breakaway and beat Coreau glove side. Ryan Stanton gained an assist as he made the breakout pass that allowed the breakaway, while Day picked up his second helper of the night.
The Gulls allowed just one power play to the Condors through the first 30 minutes of action. On the penalty kill, San Diego didn’t give up a single shot on net, added two shots of their own on a great scoring chance by Carrick and controlled the puck for nearly the entire two minutes of shorthanded play.
Despite gaining momentum from the strong performance on the penalty kill, Joe Gambardella beat Coreau for the third Condors goal of the night. The goal came as Patrick Russell took control of a rebound shot and gave Gambardella a centering pass for the score at the 12:38 mark of the second frame.
In the third period with Ethan Bear in the penalty box, the Gulls cut the lead to a single goal as a wide open Corey Tropp found the back of the net 5:55 into the third period. The score marked Tropp’s fourth power-play goal of the season, giving him the team lead for most goals on the man-advantage. Forward Kalle Kossila was the recipient of the primary assist and defenseman Andy Welinski took the other.
Just five minutes later following a mad scramble in front of the net Kossila found the puck and added a goal of his own to even the score with 9:30 left in the game. With his second point on the night, Kossila’s third multi-point performance of the season gave him his 11th point in as many games played.
For the fourth time this season and the first time since Oct. 27 against the Tucson Roadrunners the Gulls required extra time to decide the game. After five minutes of intense overtime, the game was forced to a shootout for San Diego's third time this season.
Through two rounds the goaltenders stayed perfect. Cameron Hebig from the Condors was the first and only player to score in the shootout and win the game despite a strong comeback performance by the Gulls. San Diego was the first team to earn a point againt Bakersfield as the Condors entered tonight a perfect 7-0-0-0 when leading after two periods.
Jared Coreau made 25 saves in regulation and overtime, and stopped two-of-three shots in the shootoutdefeat.
The Gulls will return to San Diego to host the San Jose Barracuda tomorrow night at Pechanga Arena San Diego (7 p.m., TV: FOX 5 San Diego, Radio: Mighty 1090).