Bakersfield’s 10-Game Home Win Streak Snapped

BAKERSFIELD , Ca – The Bakersfield Condors were feeling pretty good coming off of their Christmas holiday break.   They knew they had a 10-game home winning streak under their belts and had already broken their all time record of eight in a row, set in 2005-06.   But tonight, the Stockton Thunder was determined that simplicity and defensive playing was their best chance.   The Thunder’s simple plan paid off in a 3-1 win over the Condors at the Rabobank Arena, before 6,570 fans Saturday night.
 
“It’s tough to play these games after we’ve been off for five days. Players tend to be sluggish.” said assistant coach (and defensive player) Matt O’Dette.   “We wanted to keep it simple and play defensively.”
 
The first period there was no sign of sluggishness on either team.   Stockton’s net minder Bryan Pitton made a few fantastic saves with the aid of his teammates. But it looked like the Thunder was struggling early on with penalties.   Stockton players gave up four penalties, providing chances for Bakersfield to get an advantage.   The Thunder penalty kill unit was exceptionally effective tonight.
 
About mid-way into the period, Stockton’s Chris D’Alvise came around the net and dropped the puck past Timo Pielmeier, assisted by Brett Hemingway, to put the Thunder on the board first. The goal is D’Alvise’s seventh of the season.   But Bakersfield’s Stephane Goulet answered the goal with a goal of his own, his ninth of the season.
 
Goulet gave the credit for his goal to Sasha Pokulok.   “Sasha made a really nice pass in front of the net, then he screened the goalie and I tapped it in.” A second assist went to Andrew Ianiero.
 
At the end of the first period, the Condors outshot the Thunder 15-7, and the score was tied at 1-1.
 
The second period was heavy in defense.   At 3:56 into the period, a Thunder power play allowed a slapshot by Kelly Czuy up the middle, through traffic, from just inside the blue line, to put the puck past Pielmeier to give Stockton the 2-1 lead.  
 
Following the next puck drop, Riley Emmerson dropped gloves with Erick Lizon.   The two giants, Emmerson is 6-feet 8-inches, while Lizon is 6-feet 4-inches, got the crowd on their feet.   Lizon “is a tough guy, we’ve fought before. He’s a combative warrior.   I’m sure next time, at my house, he’ll give me a run again,” Emmerson said. The scuffle seemed to really give Stockton a boost of energy to finish out the period.   Late in the period, Stockton’s penalty kill unit was again able to hold-off a goal, ending the period 2-1 Thunder.   The Condors again outshot the Thunder 14-3 in the period.
 
The third period was much of the same, heavy defense. The Condors weren’t able get anything past Pitton, though they had 13 shots on goal, again in the period.   Late in the period, Pielmeier was pulled to allow for the sixth skater, but the puck went past a skater in a pass, and gave Stockton the opportunity, which Judd Blackwater caught up and passed to Igor Gongalsky for the empty net goal to firm up the Thunder’s lead and squelch any hopes of extending the Condor home winning streak.
The Stockton Thunder won the game 3-1.   Pitton had 41 saves, while Pielmeier had 13.   The three stars were Bryan Pitton, Stephane Goulet, and Chris D’Alvise.
 
After the game, Stephane Goulet said the end result of this game won’t hinder their confidence. “We are a tough team to beat in our barn. I thought we played really well tonight.   [Bryan Pitton] played really well.” and he continued, “But I’m sure if we keep playing like this, we’ll get more wins than loses later.”
 
Pitton understood the plan given him pre-game and chalked his play up to his defensive teammates. My teammates “made it pretty easy on me, after I made a save, our guys cleared [the puck] away, so it helped me. It was a good game.”   Pitton added, “Hopefully we can get back on our own winning streak here.”
 
Emmerson added, “Coach told us to be simple and stick to the game plan, no turn-over’s and watch for the odd-man rushes.   Bakersfield is a pretty good team, but our goalie played unbelievably tonight.”
 
Pielmeier has been on a good run this so far.   He was named runner-up for the ECHL Goaltender of the week last week and in a game against the Utah Grizzlies on December 10^th, he became the first Condor goaltender ever to score a goal.   This feat made him only the 10^th in ECHL history and the youngest professional goalie ever to score a goal on an empty net. “It’s always a dream come true.”  
 
In tonight’s game, Pielmeier said he didn’t believe the lack of shots on goal had any impact on his abilities. “I am pretty good at staying in focus.   I made some pretty big saves and gave the team a chance to come back,” he said.
 
The Condors will get a chance to get back at the Thunder on Tuesday, December 29^th in Stockton.   The Condors are 1-1-0-2 against Stockton this season, with an all time 22-11-3.   Historically, the Condors have done their damage in Stockton, losing in regulation only four times in 19 contests (13-4-2).   Bakersfield is 6-2-2 in their last ten games, and leads the Pacific division with 18-8-2 and 38 points.
 
The Thunder is in third place in the Pacific division, 11-14-1-2, and 25 points, and is 6-4 in their last ten games.
 
“We are looking forward to getting back home Tuesday night.” said O’Dette, after the game.   He commented that a few days of practice and getting the turkey out of their system might be helpful too.   Following the home game against Bakersfield, Stockton heads out to Idaho for a three game series starting New Years Eve (December 31^st).
 
Following the game in Stockton on Tuesday, The Condors will return home to host the Ontario Reign on January 2^nd, 2010.
 
Contact the writer at: shellie.lima@prohockeynews.com   Contact the photographer at: jack.lima@prohockeynews.com