GAME PREVIEW: Condors v Tucson at 6:30 p.m.
The Bakersfield Condors and Tucson Roadrunners clash for the seventh of eight matchups on the season. Bakersfield is 1-4-1 against the division-leading Roadrunners this season, but won the last meeting, 3-2, on February 19 in Tucson.
Bakersfield earned a 3-2 overtime decision over the visiting San Diego Gulls on Saturday night. D Joey LaLeggia potted the game-winner, 3:17 into the extra session, for his 10th goal of the year. G Laurent Brossoit stopped 38 of 40 for his eighth win of the season.
Tucson dropped a 4-3 game to Texas on Saturday night at home, despite outshooting the Stars, 27-10. G Hunter Miska played 50 minutes and stopped five of nine shots he faced before being replaced by G Michael Houser. D Joel Hanley had two assists.
All eight teams in the Pacific Division are above .500 with 12 points separating top to bottom. Bakersfield begins the night eight points back of fourth-place Stockton. With 14 games remaining in the regular season, Bakersfield would need 21 points to keep pace with the average qualifying playoff point total from the past two seasons in the division.
D Joey LaLeggia’s overtime goal was the team’s fifth win in the extra session. Bakerisfield has been past regulation 16 times with a 5-8 overtime record and a 2-1 shootout mark. The 13 games decided in overtime alone are tied for third in the AHL.
LW Joe Gambardella is third among rookies in shooting percentage at 18.6%… The Condors are 15-8-6 when scoring first… Bakersfield’s 18.7% power play at home is 7th in the AHL… RW Patrick Russell’s assist on Saturday gave him 18 points, one more than his rookie total a year ago.
Tucson loaded up at the trade deadline with the acquisition of C Carter Camper and D Trevor Murphy. Camper had 42 points (13g-29a) in 53 games before the trade. In four games with Tucson, he has eight points (1g-7a). Murphy became the Roadrunners active leading point producer from the blue line and has three points (1g-2a) in five games with his new club… RW Nick Merkley is t-3rd in the AHL in power-play goals with 11… C Dylan Strome is second in rookie scoring with 49 points (22g-27a) in 44 games.