GAME PREVIEW: Condors host Gulls at 7 p.m.
TONIGHT
The Bakersfield Condors conclude their eight-game season series against the San Diego Gulls. Bakersfield owns a 4-2-1 record against San Diego and has won three straight in the series. That streak includes a 3-2 win on Wednesday in San Diego with C Kyle Platzer netting the game-winner in the third period.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Bakersfield saw a six-game road points streak (5-0-1) end with a 6-0 loss at Ontario. Three Condors picked up fighting majors in the loss: D Ben Bekter, C Josh Currie, and D Caleb Jones.
San Diego beat Cleveland last night, 3-1. G Kevin Boyle stopped 44 shots as the Gulls opened the socring with C Mitch Hults and never looked back. The win kept pace with Ontario for second in the Pacific Division playoff race.
PLAYOFF SITUATION
Every team in the Pacific Division is at least three games over .500 beginning action tonight with a full-slate. Currently, the Condors are the equivalent of five points behind fourth-place Texas, but woiuld need to jump two teams in order to get there. With seven games reamaining, including tonight, Texas’ “magic” number against the Condors is eight points (points gained by Texas or lost by the Condors).
MAGIC MARCH
Despite the loss last night, March has been good to the Condors as the team holds a 6-3-2 record into the month finale tonight. The Condors are 4-1-1 on the road in the month are already guaranteed their best monthly record of the season.
CONDORS NOTES
Bakersfield’s 15 road wins this season are an AHL franchise high. They have three more road games left in the season with two in Manitoba and one in San Jose… C Joe Gambardella leads on AHL rookies with a 21.1% shooting percentage (12/57)… The Condors penalty kill is 8th in the league at 84.1% and has killed off 29 of 30 opponent power plays… C Kyle Platzer leads the Condors with six points (2g-4a) in five games against San Diego.
GULLS NOTES
C Nick Kerdiles leads the Gulls against Bakersfield with seven points (4g-3a) in six games… San Diego is 16-10-2-1 on the road… The Gulls power play is first in the AHL at 21.8%. RW Corey Tropp has nine power play goals while LW Kalle Kossila’s 17 power play assists is tied for the team lead.
TRANSACTIONS
3/30 – D Keegan Lowe recalled on emergency basis by Edmonton (NHL)
SCOREBOARD WATCHING:
Tucson (1st) @ Iowa
San Jose (7th) @ Rockford
Texas (4th) @ Chicago
Stockton (6th) @ San Antonio (5th)
Cleveland @ Ontario (2nd)