HOLTY’S BLOG: A CHANCE IN CANADA

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The blog was going to be written on the bus ride to LAX last night, but it wasn’t. It was going to be written in Vancouver International, but it wasn’t. So, mostly written at 30,000 feet and completed in downtown Winnipeg, here’s the first-ever Canadian Holty’s Blog.

You may have wanted the blog with your lunch, and that’s fine, but as I’ll remind you, it’s my blog and I’ll do what I want. And a dinner time blog is just as good.

Now for the blog…

– Five games remaining in the regular season and the Condors are right in it. I’m not sure many would have taken that bet back in early February. It’s a credit to the coaching staff and the players who continue to battle together and not listen to what some say. Bakersfield is 10-4-2 in its last 16 games.

– What’s the situation look like? Simply put, in baseball terms, the Condors are two games back of fourth-place Texas. Wedged between is Stockton at a game back of Texas. The Condors lose just about every tiebreak situation, so the Condors will need the Heat and Stars to do no better than 2-3 down the stretch and will need at minimum four wins in five games.

– No better example of this team willing to do whatever it takes than the D situation last night. Bakersfield started with five d-men and played a man short (including Joey LaLeggia), but went down to four after Ryan Stanton left after crashing into a bench door. Stanton is with the team in Winnipeg, but couldn’t finish last night. That sent leading scorer Josh Currie on D for the third period just to spell the four blueliners.

– To me, there have been two reasons the Condors have given themselves a chance with nine days left in the regular season: goaltending and penalty killing. Goaltender Laurent Brossoit was stellar last night stopping 35 of 37 and all three in the shootout. He’s 7-3-2 in his last 12 appearances. The penalty kill is 29 for 31 and scored a gift shorthanded goal last night. Sat with Kyle Platzer on the plane from Vancouver to Winnipeg and his response to what he thought of the goal was “sometimes you need those bounces. I’ll take it.”

– With the shortage on the blue line, the Condors have added D Samuel Thibeault from Wichita on a PTO. There will be some other additions too, but I’ll save that for game time tomorrow. Still, it will be a heavy workload for Ben Betker, Caleb Jones, Joey LaLeggia and company.

– Holty, there’s no way the Condors win two in Winnipeg right? Well, the Moose have struggled in March after a bunch of recalls and goaltending in flux. That said, they’re a very talented team and will be out to secure their playoff berth. It’s crazy to think 14 of the 15 teams in the Western Conference are well over .500.

– How about Logan Day? He’s played five games since being signed to a try-out out of Division III Endicott College and has two big goals. Love to see stories like that.

– You can watch Friday’s game at 5 p.m. at The Padre. Sunday’s game starts at noon back in Bakersfield.

– Keegan Lowe will make his Oilers debut tonight and become the 27th Condors alum to play in Edmonton in three seasons. Congrats to him!

– Normally don’t do chains on the road, but Elephant & Castle is right next to the hotel in the ‘Peg and they have good pub food.

Until next time Condorstown…

Ryan Holt aka Holty is the Voice of the Condors in his 7th season. He’s not too excited about having to wear a winter jacket. Follow him on Twitter @CondorsHolty for more nonsense and food pics or shoot him an e-mail to RHolt@bakersfieldcondors.com with questions, comments, or blog ideas.