Max Comtois scored 4:20 into the fourth overtime period early Saturday morning and San Diego grabbed the opener of the Pacific Division Finals from Bakersfield.
After playing five hours and 10 minutes in the series opener, the teams go back at it for Game 2 of the best-of-seven matchup on Saturday evening (7 p.m. PT, AHLTV).
Comtois, in his first game back with the Gulls after finishing his junior season in Drummondville (QMJHL), beat Shane Starrett on San Diego’s 56th shot of the night, ending the fifth-longest game in AHL history after 124 minutes and 20 seconds of play.
Starrett finished with 53 saves, while the Gulls’ Jeff Glass turned aside 51 shots.
Game 1 was scoreless until the 12:09 mark of the second period, when Patrick Russell set up Brad Malone for a shorthanded goal and a 1-0 Condors lead.
It was the fifth time in as many playoff contests that the Gulls had allowed the game’s first goal.
San Diego answered 32 seconds into the third period when Bakersfield turned the puck over in front of its own net and Justin Kloos capitalized for his second goal of the playoffs.
Joe Gambardella found a loose puck in the crease and gave the Condors a 2-1 edge at 4:22, but that lead lasted just 11 seconds as Sam Carrick buried a feed from Ben Street to tie things back up at 4:33.
The teams would play nearly 80 scoreless minutes before the Gulls prevailed. San Diego outshot Bakersfield 31-25 during the sudden-death overtime periods.
Pacific Division Finals – Series “L” (best-of-7)
P1-Bakersfield Condors vs. P3-San Diego Gulls
Game 1 – Fri., May 3 – San Diego 3, BAKERSFIELD 2 (4OT)
Game 2 – Sat., May 4 – San Diego at Bakersfield, 10:00
Game 3 – Wed., May 8 – Bakersfield at San Diego, 10:00
Game 4 – Fri., May 10 – Bakersfield at San Diego, 10:00
*Game 5 – Sat., May 11 – San Diego at Bakersfield, 10:00
*Game 6 – Mon., May 13 – Bakersfield at San Diego, 10:00
*Game 7 – Wed., May 15 – San Diego at Bakersfield, 10:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
