Game 28: San Diego @ Bakersfield Condors – Dec 29

With Berry returned from suspension but Tropp still out, it meant the second straight game for newcomer Steve McParland. Sustr also returned to the line up as Andy Welinski was called up – for what I assume was to help the woeful Ducks Power Play. Newly acquired Trevor Murphy also made his debut. Jeff Glass also made his second start as Boyle has been recalled to Anaheim as contingency for Gibson potentially suffering an injury. He was returned, but apparently not in time for this game.

Gazdic had the best chance of the early going – forcing a turnover in the Condors’ zone and getting setup in the slot, but he could not pull the trigger on the pass that was fed to him.

Sam Carrick was assessed a weak tripping penalty for what looked more like a simple check near the Condors’ goal line and Bakersfield converted with the man advantage, using swift passing to break the Gulls’ penalty killing box.

San Diego had a power play midway through the first, and despite some good looks as well as the introduction of Trevor Murphy at the point, they could not convert.

Four minutes later, Jeff Glass made his best save as a Gull thus far when he turned aside a post to post cross crease opportunity on a two on one.

Two minutes later, Max Jones took it upon himself to get the Gulls evened up by busting down the right side, fending off Condors’ defenders, and forcing his way in front in tight, collecting a rebound off his initial shot and getting it by the Condor’s net-minder.

The middle frame sputtered it’s way to a slow and disjointed conclusion with a multitude of icings and offside calls where the scores remained tied.

Play was middling in the third, with San Diego enjoying the majority of the first four minutes in the Condors’ zone before a turnover and partial breakaway resulted in a 2-1 lead for the home team.

San Diego poured it on in response, and had a few good opportunities including a two on one as Sam Steel and Chase DeLeo sped into the Condors zone- but Steel’s pass was deflected and cleared. I’d like to see the play-maker shoot more on opportunities like that; by now it is probably well known that he will always look to pass.

The Condors thought they had a two goal lead when a shot from the face off squeaked by Glass five hole, but Schenn- realising his goaltenders plight- got in behind and prevented the goal, while chaos broke out in front.

With under four minutes left in the game and the Gulls still pressing, the Condors took a high sticking penalty when an inadvertent stick clipped the newly acquired Trevor Murphy (who spent maybe less than thirty seconds getting his face fixed before taking the ice for the second unit) and then proceeding to hammer home a game tying goal with just over three minutes remaining.

San Diego pressured for the remainder of regulation, but could not get the go-ahead tally and the teams headed to overtime.

San Diego had a few clear cut chances from Blandisi and Steel but appeared to lose Kossila on a hard check into the boards that the forward looked uncomfortable getting up from.

On the ensuing face-off, the puck found Troy Terry as he came through the neutral zone with speed. The shifty forwarded then created yet more space, cutting across the grain before firing a hard wrist shot whose release appeared to fool the Condors’ goaltender as it snuck by him for the Gulls win. The goal was Terry’s third game winner on the year.