GAME RECAP: Condors 4, Tucson 3
CONDORSTOWN, Calif. – The Bakersfield Condors (40-21-3-1; 85pts) returned home and hit the 40-win plateau with a 4-3 victory over the Tucson Roadrunners (33-25-5-3; 74pts) on Wednesday. RW Josh Currie had a hat trick and pulled into a tie for the team goal-scoring lead with 27 goals.
Bakersfield can clinch a division title while they are idle on Friday if Colorado beats San Jose in regulation.
FIRST PERIOD
- CONDORS GOAL: RW David Gust (17th) redirected a shot on the power play; Assists: Russell, Jones; Time of goal: 12:07; BAK leads, 1-0
- ROADRUNNERS GOAL: RW Nick Merkley (9th) deflected a pass; Assists: Pederson, Dineen; Time of goal: 19:53; Game tied, 1-1
- SHOTS: BAK – 8, TUC – 11
SECOND PERIOD
- CONDORS GOAL: RW Josh Currie (25th) spun a shot from the slot; Assists: Lowe, Marody; Time of goal: 1:11; BAK leads, 2-1
- CONDORS GOAL: Currie (26th) from the right-wing circle; Assists: Marody, Benson; Time of goal: 9:50; BAK leads, 3-1
- CONDORS GOAL: Currie (27th) off a face-off; Assists: Benson, Marody; Time of goal: 15:00; BAK leads, 4-1
- ROADRUNNERS GOAL: C Michael Chaput (15th) unassisted from the right-wing circle; Time of goal: 16:52; BAK leads, 4-2
- SHOTS: BAK- 13 , TUC – 7
THIRD PERIOD
- ROADRUNNERS GOAL: D Dakota Mermis (4th) from the high slot through traffic on the power play; Assists: Garland, Chaput; Time of goal: 10:42; BAK leads, 4-3
- SHOTS: BAK- 4, TUC – 17
QUICK HITS
- THREE STARS: 1. Currie (BAK) 2. Gust (BAK) 3. Stanton (BAK)
- POWER PLAYS: BAK – 1/3 ; TUC – 1/5
- SHOTS ON GOAL: BAK – 25 ; TUC – 35
- GOALTENDERS: BAK – Starrett (26-7-5; 35/32); TUC – Hill (15-14-4; 25/21)
- RW Josh Currie registered his second hat trick of the season and his sixth in the past three seasons
- LW Tyler Benson pulled back into the AHL rookie scoring lead with two assists
- It was C Cooper Marody’s 6th three-point game of the season
- The Condors went 5-2-1 against Tucson this season and won five straight in the season series
- If Colorado beats San Jose on Friday, the Condors would clinch the Pacific Division regular season title
- If San Diego AND Colorado both win Friday, the Condors will be the #1 seed against Colorado in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs
- Bakersfield hosts Ontario Saturday and ends the season in Stockton on Sunday
- Scratches: Labrie, Hebig, Stukel, Christoffer, Manning, Yamamoto, Montoya, Skinner