Condors Come Back in Third to Stun Stars, 4-2

Jan 6, 2018

Boxscore Photos Video Three Stars: 1. Gambardella (BAK) 2. McKenzie (TEX) 3. Fyten (TEX) Shots: Stars - 40 Condors - 31 Goaltenders: W - Ellis L - Bow

CEDAR PARK, Texas - It was a fast start for the Texas Stars but they could not hold on in the end as the Bakersfield Condors surged in the third to pull out a 4-2 win on Saturday night in front of 6,156 in attendance at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

The Stars (19-14-3-1) and Condors (14-13-6-0) split their weekend pair of games. The two teams will close out their season series on Wednesday in Bakersfield at 8:30 p.m. CST.

The Stars seized momentum with a pair of goals just 16 seconds apart in the final moments of the first. Curtis McKenzie tapped home a loose puck in the goal crease with 26 seconds left in the period for his team-leading 18th of the season. Austin Fyten follow things up moments later on a break through the right circle to make it 2-0, Texas.

Both teams held serve until 21 seconds remained in the seconds and the Condors began their comeback on Ty Rattie's power-play goal from the top of the circle to make it 2-1.

Six minutes into the third, Brad Malone took off on a shorthanded breakaway and beat Landon Bow to knot the score. Two minutes later, Joe Gambardella snapped the game-winner in from the top of the slot. Iiro Pakarinen added an empty-net goal to seal the Bakersfield win.

Nick Ellis stopped 38 shots in net to earn the win in his only appearance against the Stars this season. Bow stopped 27 of 30 in the loss.

Texas finished 0-for-4 on the power play while the Condors went 1-for-3.

Photo Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars