Bakersfield Condors goalie Olivier Rodrigue makes a save with his left pad during the second period against the San Jose Barracuda at Mechanics Bank Arena on Friday FEB 9, 2023. (Bakersfield Condors)

by Marko Ukalovic

Rapheal Lavoie scored two goals, including the game winner in overtime as the Bakersfield Condors defeated the San Jose Barracuda 3-2 in overtime on Friday evening at Mechanics Bank Arena.

San Jose has lost three out of its last five games and are 0-8 in overtime games this season. Bakersfield has won three games in a row.

Lavoie scored the game winning goal at the 1:31 mark of the extra session with a power play goal after receiving a cross ice pass from Lane Pederson and then burying a wrist shot from the left wing. Cole Cassels was called for hooking 13 seconds into the overtime.

Bakersfield (22-13-2-2) drew first blood early in the first period with a power play goal. Pederson threw the puck out in front of the net and Lavoie fired a point-blank shot past ‘Cuda goalie Georgi Romanov for his 14th goal of the season at the 5:49 mark. Lavoie leads the Condors with eight power play goals.

San Jose (14-22-8-0) answered back with an even strength goal just past the halfway mark of the opening frame. Oskar Lindblom picked up the puck behind the Condors’ net, spun around and fired wrist shot top shelf to the short side of Condors’ goalie Olivier Rodrigue for his sixth goal of the season at the 11:10 mark. Brandon Coe received the only assist on the play.

The Condors regained the lead with an even strength goal past the halfway mark of the second period. Seth Griffin centered a pass out to Cam Dineen whose one-timer hit off the crossbar. Adam Erne cleaned up the rebound for his second goal of the season at the 12:28 mark.

The middle frame served as 20 minutes of frustration for the ‘Cuda. They outshot (19-5) and out chanced the Condors, but Rodrigue made numerous big saves including a point-blank shot from Brent Marek early in the period.

After Rodrigue stopped 36 shots in a row, San Jose broke through late in the third period with an even strength goal. Artem Guryev blasted a slapshot from the point past a screened Rodrigue for his second goal of the season at the 15:27 mark. Nathan Todd and Cassels recorded assists on the equalizing goal.

Rodrigue (10-4-4-0) stood on his head the entire game as he finished with 40 saves on 42 shots to earn his 10th victory of the season. Romanov (4-6-4-0) made 16 saves on 19 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-2 on the power play. Bakersfield went 2-for-4.

Coe returned to the ‘Cuda lineup after a seven-game absence.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Rodrigue 2) Lavoie 3) Erne.

UP NEXT: San Jose and Bakersfield conclude their home and home series on Saturday 2/10 at 6:00pm at Tech CU Arena.