Stockton comes from behind to win 3-2

BAKERSFIELD , Calif. – As expected, the first game of round two was exciting and intense. The Thunder came from behind to win in overtime 3-2 and take the first game of the series, before a home crowd of 5,208.
 
The second-seeded Condors faced the sixth-seed Thunder in game one of the National Conference Semifinals at Rabobank Arena in a best-of-seven series.   This marks the first time these rivals have faced one another in the playoffs.   The Condors earned a trip to the second round, after defeating the Victoria Salmon Kings 3-2 in a best-of-five game series.   The Thunder knocked the Alaska Aces out in four games, earning a couple of extra days rest before the subsequent round.
 
These California central valley teams have met 12 times during the regular season. Bakersfield led the season with 6-4-2 record head-to-head against Stockton, never loosing a season series against the Thunder. This marks the Condors seventh straight playoff appearance, and the first time they’ve advanced to the second round since 2007. Stockton has appeared in four consecutive post-seasons, and this is their second successive appearance in the semifinals.
 
The first period was little more than just skating back and forth, as the players seemed slower than expected. Both teams had a couple of shots that hit the posts and deflected away from the net. The Condors led the period in shots on goal with 12-9.
 
At 6:12 into the second period, on a power play, as a result of a Stockton penalty for delay of game, Condors’ Ryan Menei took a rebound and wristed the puck up and over Perugini’s shoulder for the first goal of the night, and his first of the post-season.   As has been the trend for Stockton this post-season, the opposing team has scored first in each of their games to date.
 
Three minutes later, Thunder left-wing Jason Pitton worked his way to the front of the goal, and slapped the puck past the glove side of J.P. Levasseur to level the score.   Bakersfield led in shots on goal 16-7 as the teams left the ice for the second intermission.
 
The second power play for the Condors in the third period resulted in taking back the lead at 2:08, from a pass that came from behind the net, to Matt Voakes in the slot, to put the puck into the back of the net. Then, with less than three minutes remaining in the third, Kelly Czuy, from the slot, blasts a back-hander past Levasseur to tie the game at 3-3.   The goal was Czuy’s fourth in the post-season.   The goal resulted in quieting the home crowd.
 
With a 1:13 remaining, Stockton took their sixth penalty of the night, allowing a key opportunity for the Condors. But it just wasn’t meant to be, as the key saves by Perugini in the net, led to the sudden-death overtime.
 
Neither team was able to monopolize off of a power play opportunity each in the initial few minutes of the overtime.   Then J.F. Caudron buried a rebound off a Steve Vanoosten shot for the Thunder victory, scoring his fourth goal of the season.
 
The Thunder wins 3-2 in overtime.   Perugini picks up the win, their fourth consecutive win in the post-season with 39 saves, while Levasseur takes the loss with 27 saves.   Stockton was one for five on the power play, while Bakersfield was two for seven.
 
On the eve before the series, as has happened with many other sports and cities, the Mayors of Stockton and Bakersfield placed a friendly wager on their home teams.   Stockton is famous for their asparagus while Bakersfield is known for their Dewar’s Candies.   The winning Mayor will enjoy a case of the best the other city has to offer, as well as seeing their home team advance to the conference finals for the first time in their club’s history.
 
Game number two will be Saturday night in Bakersfield, followed by games three through five in Stockton, finishing as needed, games six and seven in the Condors territory.
 
Contact the writer at Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com