Bulls Win!!!!!!!!!
By Ryan Bayer
San Francisco Bulls vs. Bakersfield Condors. Mandatory credit: San Francisco Bulls media department.
Tonight the San Francisco Bulls play hosts to their division rivals the Bakersfield Condors for a rare Wednesday matchup. The Bulls are coming off of a 3-2 loss at the hands of the Utah Grizzlies last Saturday night in Utah. San Francisco on the season as of today have played 23 games with a 8-12-1-2 record which puts them in third place in the ECHL’s Pacific Division and tied for fifth place overall in the Western Conference. While Bakersfield thru 21 games have a 6-12-1-2 record that has them in last place of the Pacific Division and ninth place overall in the Western Conference. Tonight’s contest marks their sixth of twelve meetings with this one making it it’s third of six meetings at the Cow Palace. San Francisco’s last victory against the Bakersfield Condors was back on November 20th when defenseman Sacha Guimond and forward Peter Sivak who each tallied a goal and two assists to help the Bulls come away with a 4-2 win. Another highlight of that night, is San Jose Sharks goaltending prospect, Thomas Heemsherk who stopped 16 shots as he recorded his fifth win of the season. Heemsherk is coming off of a milestone of his own when he was recently named ECHL goalie of the week in which he posted 3-0-0 record with a 2.00 GAA and a .925 save percentage. The Bulls are looking to get back to a winning form as they are coming off of a three game road trip in which they posted a 0-2-1 record. Their most recent loss came courtesy of the Las Vegas Wranglers as the Bulls were edged by Las Vegas in overtime by a 6-5 final. Meanwhile, Bakersfield recently snapped a six game losing skid with a 6-5 shootout victory against the Stockton Thunder. Tonights’ game can viewed on America Sports Online (must have an account) or can be heard on KNBR.com. Puck is set to drop at 7:15pm at the legendary Cow Palace. Lets Go Bulls!!!!!!!
SF Bulls
Bulls Leaders
Goals: Dean Ouellet – 13
Assists: Justin Bowers – 16
Points: Justin Bowers – 22
Plus/Minus: Scott Langdon – +7
PIM: Kris Belan – 77
Wins: Thomas Heemskerk – 7
GAA: Thomas Heemskerk – 3.56
Save %: Thomas Heemskerk – .897
Shutouts: N/A
SF Bulls: Who’s Hot Tracker
Dean Ouellet – 10 points (7g, 3a) in his last nine games
Daniil Tarasov – 4 points (1g, 3a) in the last three games (San Jose Sharks Prospect)
Sacha Guimond – 11 points (2g, 9a) in the last seven games
Condors
Bakersfield Leaders:
Goals: Parker Stanfield – 6?
Assists: Levi Nelson, Evan Trupp – 10
Points: Levi Nelson – 15
Plus/Minus: Liam Huculak – Even
PIM: Tyson Gimblett – 76
Wins: Scott Greenham – 4
GAA: Brian Stewart – 3.55
Save %: Brian Stewart – .903
Shutouts: N/A
Bakersfield Condors: Who’s Hot Tracker
Evan Trupp – 4 points (1g, 3a) in the past four games
Parker Stanfield – 5 points (1g, 4a) in the past three games
*****Stats tracking report are courtesy of www.sfbulls.com*****
San Francisco Bulls forward #19 Daniil Tarasov. Mandatory credit: San Francisco Bulls media department
San Francisco Bulls games notes: 1st Period, In the early stages of the game, San Francisco Bulls forward Daniil Tarasov opened the scoring with his second goal of the season to put the Bulls ahead 1-0, with assists by Captain Justin Bowers with knotting his 17th assist and resident tough guy Scott Langdon added his fifth at the 4:47 mark of the opening stanza. At the halfway mark of the opening frame, Bulls defenseman Simon Danis-Pepin was called for a high sticking minor. With their first man advantage opportunity of the game for the Bakersfield Condors, Bakersfield would meet early resistance as San Francisco would be up to the task as they killed of their first shorthanded situation, thus protecting their early one goal lead of the contest. Minutes later, there was an exchange of push and shove between the two teams but the refs would put a quick stop to it so that the game could continue. Following the minor scrum, Bakersfield would be charged their first penalty of the game when defenseman Tyson Gimblett was called for delay of game. Ten plus seconds in the Bulls man advantage opportunity, Bulls forward Peter Sivak would score San Francisco’s second goal of the game making it his seventh goal of the season, with assists coming from fellow Slovakian forward Marek Viedensky adding his seventh assist of the season and forward Daniil Tarasov getting his sixth, making this an all European affair at 17:33 of the first. With less than a minute to go in the opening period, Bulls forward Kris Belan was called for interference as his made contact with Condors net minder Scott Greenham. The Condors did not score on the man advantage opportunity, however they would take some carry over power play time for the second period. As both teams went off for the games first intermission, San Francisco would have 5 shot lead over Bakersfield with a 12-7 advantage.
Injury Report: San Francisco Bulls defenseman Rob Kwiet would be subjected to a non-serious lower body injury as he would not return.
San Francisco Bulls winger #91 Peter Sivak. Mandatory Credit: San Francisco Bulls media department.
2nd Period, Bakersfield would enter the middle frame with some carry over power play time from the first period. The Bulls would go work on PK duty as the Bakersfield Condors would fail for a second attempt on the power play, making a 2-2 on the PK Immediately following the penalty kill, Bakersfield would be charged with their second penalty the game when Evan Trupp received a double minor for high sticking at 2:21 of the second. With a prime opportunity to add to their 2-0 lead, San Francisco would unfortunately come up short on the extended power play. However, Bakersfield would march back to the box when Trupp would be called for second penalty in a row, this time for cross checking at 6:20 of the second. With another attempt to add to their lead, San Francisco would be denied again as Bakersfield killed off six straight minutes of penalty time. Following their two failed power play opportunities, San Francisco would be shorthanded when defenseman Simon Danis-Pepin received his second penalty of the game for slashing at 8:55 of the second stanza. The Bulls would not kill off this penalty as Bakersfield would score their first goal of the game cutting San Francisco’s lead to make it a 2-1 advantage when Trevor Hendrikx pumped hit home making it his fourth goal of the season with assists from forward Peter Boyd would added his third assist of the season and centermen Levi Nelson would add to his assist count to eleven at the 10:11 mark. Eleven seconds later Bulls would answer right back with their third tally of the game to restore their two goal cushion, when Peter Sivak scored his second goal of the game to increase his goal count of the season once more with eight and Alex Tuckerman with the lone assist, stamping his 2 assist of the season at 10:22 of the second. Over six minutes later, Bulls would add to their cushion as forward Dean Ouellet scored his 14th goal of the season with assists from Bowers would added his second point of the night and punched his 17th assist of the season and Tarasov with his second point of game and seventh of the season.. For the first time of the game, both teams would get matching minors as Bulls forward Viedensky and Condors defenseman Enders would each get rough minors at 17:25. Both teams on the 4 on 4 action would fail to score as the game remained at 4-1 San Francisco. Bakersfield would continue to trail on the shot clock as San Francisco would increase their lead with a 25-12 advantage.
San Francisco Bulls forward Marek Viedensky (San Jose Sharks Prospect). Mandatory credit: San Francisco Bulls media department.
3rd Period, With no carry over penalty or power play time, each team would start off the final frame at even strength. However that would be short lived as Bakersfield forward Jacob Legace would go to the sin bin for tripping at 1:07 of the third. With another opportunity to add to their three goal lead, San Francisco once again failed to convert as Bakersfield would kill it off, making them 4/5 on the penalty kill. With just over a minute after Bakersfield killed off their fourth successful pk of the night, San Francisco would be on the wrong end of the stick when Kris Belan was called for interference. While on the man advantage, Bakersfield would encounter resistance as the Bulls would kill off the penalty protecting their 4-1 lead. Over the next seven plus minutes after Bakersfield fail attempt to score on the power play, both teams would play non-interrupted hockey until Bulls defenseman Danis-Pepin broke that streak when he was charged with his third penalty of the night for delay of game. On the man advantage opportunity, Bakersfield would again come up short as San Francisco would kill off their fourth successful shorthanded situation making them 4/5 on the night. Bulls would hold on to their three goal lead as they would come away from tonight’s contest with a 4-1 victory. With the completion of the contest, San Francisco won decisively on the shot clock with 34-20 margin. Furthermore, with tonight’s win, the Bulls captured their 21st point of the season with a 9-12-1-2 record and remained in fifth place overall in the Western Conference and making them 7-3 at home at the Cow Palace. For Bakersfield, with their loss tonight remain in last place overall in the Western Conference with a 6-13-1-2 record. Bulls are back in action again this Friday as they host Colorado as they are still searching for their first win of the season series against the Eagles. Puck will drop at 7:15pm and marks San Francisco’s first annual Teddy Bear Toss.
3 Stars of the game:
1. SF – 91 Peter Sivak
2. SF – 19 Daniil Tarasov
3. SF – 41 Justin Bowers
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