The San Diego Gulls scored the first three goals, then withstood the Bakersfield Condors comeback attempt in a 3-2 victory Friday night for their first victory in Bakersfield after four losses.
Defenseman Andrew O’Brien opened the scoring 16 minutes, 13 seconds into the first period with his fourth goal in his 39 games with the Gulls and second in two games.
Right wing Matt Bailey scored a shorthanded goal 2:55 into the second period, his second goal in his 29 games with the Gulls and first since Nov. 11, also against the Condors.
Joseph Cramarossa gave the Gulls (24-20-1-1) a 3-0 lead 9:13 into the second period with his ninth goal of the season.
Joshua Winquist scored for Bakersfield (23-19-2-2) at 17:15 of the second period and assisted on Andrew Miller’s goal at 8:39 of the third period before a crowd at Rabobank Arena announced at 5,041.
Goaltender Anton Khudobin made 25 saves for the Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks’ American Hockey League affiliate. Laurent Brossoit made 22 saves for the Condors, the Edmonton Oilers’ AHL affiliate.
The Gulls were scoreless on both their power-play opportunities and killed all three of Bakersfield’s power-play opportunities.
The loss ended the Condors’ five-game wining streak.
The Gulls are 18-0-0-1 when scoring first, 20-0-0 when leading after two periods and 15-1-1-1 in one-goal games.
The Gulls will next play Saturday night at Valley View Casino Center against the Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings AHL affiliate.
— City News Service
