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BAK vs. VIC Playoff Preview
Apr 8, 2008

Bakersfield Condors vs. Victoria Salmon Kings - Playoff Preview
Best-of-seven series begins Thursday in Victoria

 

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Thanks in part to a hot streak down the stretch that saw Bakersfield win seven of their last nine games, the Condors will compete in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. As the seventh seed in the National Conference, the Condors will battle the second seed, the Victoria Salmon Kings.

The first two games will take place in Victoria, while Games 3, 4 and 5, if necessary, are scheduled for Bakersfield, and Games 6 and 7, if necessary will be back in Victoria.

Series Schedule
Thursday, April 10 @ VIC, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, April 12 @ VIC, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday, April 15 @ BAK, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, April 16 @ BAK, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 19 @ BAK, 7 p.m.*
Tuesday, April 22 @ VIC, 7:05 p.m.*
Wednesday, April 23 @ VIC, 7:05 p.m.*
* - if necessary

The Season Series
The two clubs met nine times in the regular season, with Bakersfield putting up a 3-3-3 record, including 3-0-2 in the last five meetings of the season. It has been an offense-oriented matchup, with both clubs averaging over four goals per game in the series. The Condors have the edge in goals, outscoring the Salmon Kings 40-39.

League Leaders
Condors
LW Mark Derlago was third in the ECHL and first among rookies with 39 goals this season. D Kevin Truelson, who missed the last three games to injury, finished tied for third in both goals (13) and points (46) for defensemen. G Yutaka Fukufuji was fifth in the league in saves (1,219). C Tim Konsorada was tied for 14th in the league with 68 points.

Victoria
The Salmon Kings were one of the highest scoring teams in the ECHL this season, fourth in the league with 255 goals. Brothers Wes (42 goals) and Ash (40 goals) Goldie finished first and second in the league in goals, as well as shots on goal, this season. Ash Goldie was also tied for fifth in the ECHL with 82 points and led the league with 20 power play goals, while Wes was tied for the league lead with six shorthanded goals. LW Jordan Krestanovich ranked fourth in the league with 52 assists.

Head-to-Head Scoring Leaders
Condors

  • LW Mark Derlago (10g-4a-14pts)
  • F Andrew Ianiero (3g-9a-12pts)
  • LW Brett Lutes (2g-8a-10pts)
  • C Tim Konsorada (6g-4a-10pts)
  • F Sean Venedam (1g-9a-10pts)^
    ^on 30-day IR

    Salmon Kings

  • C Ash Goldie (8g-9a-17pts)
  • RW Milan Gajic (5g-9a-14pts)*
  • LW Jordan Krestanovich (3g-8a-11pts)
  • LW Kevin Estrada (3g-7a-10pts)
    *currently in AHL

    Special Teams
    Of Victoria's 39 goals in the series, 17 of them have come on the power play where they are averaging 29.8% against Bakersfield. The Condors, who finished the year ranked 10th in the ECHL at 18.3% on the season, were slightly better against Victoria, scoring 10 PPG at a 19.6% clip. The Salmon Kings were third in the league this season at 20.8% with the man advantage, but also surrendered a league-high 17 shorthanded goals. Bakersfield was fifth in the league with 13 SHG this season, five of which came in the season series with Victoria.

    Home Ice Advantage
    Bakersfield finished fifth in the ECHL in average attendance at 5,627, while Victoria pulled in 10th in the league at 4,870. The Salmon Kings had the fifth highest number of wins in the league at home, going 24-7-5. The Condors went 13-17-6 on home ice, but finished with a five-game winning streak at Rabobank Arena.

    As a team, Victoria is a +27 at the Save-On-Foods Center, where they've outscored their opponents 143-104 but they are a staggering -130 on the road where they have been outscored 127-112.

    Notes from The Nest:
    The 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs are bracketed this season, with no reseeding after each round. That means the winner of the Condors/Salmon Kings series will move on to face the winner of the Fresno/Utah series. For a complete playoff bracket, click here.

    All Condors games, home and away, can be heard live on the new ESPN Radio 1230 with "The Voice of the Condors" Kevin Bartl. "Condors Countdown" begins 15 minutes before the drop of the puck.

    How to get tickets
    Fans can now purchase the Playoff 4-Pack and the new "10-for-$10" group outing, so you don't miss any of the playoff action. The Playoff 4- Pack starts as low as $28 per person and secures your seat for the first four Condors home playoff games. The "10-for- $10" gives fans the opportunity to purchase 10 or more lower bowl tickets for any first round home playoff game for just $10 apiece. Act now as this special "10-for-$10" offer ends this Thursday, April 10. Individual playoff tickets went on sale to the general public this morning at 10 a.m.

    For more information or to reserve your tickets, visit bakersfieldcondors.com or call 324-PUCK (7825).

     

     

     

     

     

     



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