GAME PREVIEW | Condors v Tucson
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The Bakersfield Condors host the Tucson Roadrunners for the first time this season. It is the first of eight matchups on the season and the first of three consecutive series meetings in Bakersfield. Last season, the Roadrunners picked up wins in seven of the eight contests en route to a Pacific Division regular season title. Bakersfield owned the first year season series with wins in six of eight and a 4-2-1-1 record against Tucson.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Bakersfield won its road opener, 3-2, via a shootout in San Jose on Wednesday night. LW Evan Polei made his season debut and had a goal and fight in the first period. LW Joe Gambardella tied the game in the third period to force the game into overtime. During the shootout, C Cooper Marody and LW Tyler Benson scored while G Al Montoya stopped two of three attempts for his second win of the year.
The Condors schedule lightens up considerably over the next three weeks. After three games in six days to begin the season, Bakersfield plays just three games over 20 days and four games over 21 days. In fact, the team has five consecutive Fridays without a game.
POLEI PACKS A PUNCH
LW Evan Polei made his season debut on Wednesday and wasted no time making an impact. He scored his first goal of the year to tie the game in the first frame. Minutes later, he earned his first fighting major of the season. It was the team’s first fighting major and Polei’s seventh in the AHL. His six fights last season were a team high.
CONDORS NOTES
The win on Wednesday was G Al Montoya’s 98th in the AHL. Should he play, tonight would be appearance number 200 in the AHL for the Chicago, Illinois native… LW Cameron Hebig leads the Condors in scoring with three points (1g-2a) in three games… Fellow rookie LW Tyler Benson paces the Condors with 11 shots through three games… Seven Condors are averaging a point-per-game through the first three games… LW Nolan Vesey made his professional debut on Wednesday.
ROADRUNNERS NOTES
Tucson, like Bakersfield, has a new head coach in Jay Varady. He was the head coach of the Ontario Hockey League’s Kingston Frontenacs last season and spent four seasons as head coach of the Sioux City Musketeers in the United States Hockey League (USHL)… LW Adam Helewka, acquired in the offseason from San Jose, had two goals in his Roadrunners’ debut last Saturday.
TRANSACTIONS
10/11 – RW John McFarland loaned to Wichita (ECHL)
10/11 – D Jake Kulevich loaned to Wichita (ECHL)