The San Diego Gulls cut a four-goal deficit to one, but the Bakersfield Condors ended the comeback attempt with an empty net goal with 13 seconds to play for a 7-5 victory Friday night at Valley View Casino Center.
Bakersfield took its second four-goal lead of the game when left wing Rob Klinkhammer scored with nine minutes, 47 seconds to play. Gulls defenseman Andrew O’Brien scored his second goal of the game with 8:35 left, cutting the deficit to 6-3. A slap shot by Brandon Montour deflected off Corey Tropp’s jersey for his first goal with the Gulls with 59 seconds remaining.
After winning the ensuing faceoff, Gulls coach Dallas Eakins pulled goaltender Matt Hackett for a sixth attacker and Nic Kerdiles tipped a rebound into the net, pulling the Gulls to within one, 6-5, with 44 seconds left.
Condors left wing Ryan Hamilton sealed the victory with an empty net goal with 13 seconds to play before a crowd announced at 9,250 Bakersfield, the Edmonton Oilers American Hockey League, affiliate, led 3-1 at the end of the first period on goals by Bogdan Yakimov, Josh Currie and Zach Boychuk.
Mathew Ford and Philip McRae scored in the second period to increase the Condors lead to 5-1. Mike Sgarbossa scored a power-play goal for the Gulls 59 seconds into the third period.
O’Brien scored the Gulls’ first goal, 8:27 into the first period, tying the score, 1-1. Eakins pulled goaltender Anton Khudobin after he allowed four goals on 18 shots in the first 29:44. Hackett stopped 11 of the 13 shots he faced. Ty Rimmer made 29 saves for Bakersfield (27-22-5-2).
The loss also ended an 11-game streak by the Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks AHL affiliate, with at least one point. The Gulls had nine victories, an overtime loss and a shootout loss during the streak.
— City News Service
