ONTARIO REIGN (5-10-2-0, 12pts, 7th) @ BAKERSFIELD CONDORS (9-6-0-0, 18pts, 2nd)
DIGNITY HEALTH HOME ICE AT MECHANICS BANK ARENA
3 p.m.
LIVE on 23ABC, FOX SPORTS 970 AM, iHEARTRADIO APP, AHLTV
The Bakersfield Condors host the Ontario Reign on Dignity Health Home Ice at Mechanics Bank Arena at 3 p.m. It is the first of two on the weekend televised LIVE on 23ABC presented by Three-Way Chevrolet and Dignity Health. Additional broadcast outlets include Fox Sports 970 AM, iHeartRadio App, and streamed on AHLTV.
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DOWNLOAD GAME TIME
Download the all-new digital GAME TIME Magazine featuring Ryan McLeod on the cover and a feature with d-man Markus Niemelainen.
CELEIGH CHAPMAN PERFORMS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
Bakersfield’s own Celeigh Chapman will perform tonight’s National Anthem. A graduate of USC’s prestigious Thornton School of Music, her work has been featured in numerous films, television, and video games including Sony Pictures, EA Games, TBS, and FOX. Her music is available on iTunes and Spotify.
GAME PREVIEW
The Bakersfield Condors open up a two-game set with the Ontario Reign at 3 p.m. Bakersfield has won the first two games in the eight-game season series. Today’s game features two of the hotter teams in the AHL with the Condors having won nine of 10 and the Reign with four consecutive wins.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Bakersfield fired 40 shots on Wednesday night in a 4-3 loss at San Jose. The loss snapped the team’s nine-game winning streak. C Adam Cracknell and RW Seth Griffith scored less than a minute apart to cut a three-goal deficit to one, but the Condors could not find the equalizer. Cooper Marody extended his point streak to a team record 11 games with an assist.
Ontario swept Tucson on the road. In Wednesday’s 6-2 win RW Arthur Kaliyev scored twice and added an assist. LW Boko Imama scored for the second straight game and had two points. It was the third win over the Roadrunners this season for Ontario who also knocked off division-leading Henderson last Saturday.
BENNY AND THE JETS
Tyler Benson, Ryan McLeod, and Cooper Marody remain red hot. Marody and Benson are 1-2 in the AHL scoring race while McLeod has 14 points (6g-8a) and is +13 in his last 11 games. Since February 12, the trio is 1-2-3 in AHL scoring. After being held off the scoresheet for the first time in 10 games, Benson scored on Wednesday to give him 16 points (4g-12a) in his last 11.
NINE IS FINE
G Stuart Skinner has won his last nine starts since Feb. 19. Over that span he has a 1.33 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage with two shutouts. Overall, he leads the league in wins by two, is second in GAA and fourth in save percentage.
CONDORS NOTES
Adam Cracknell has eight points (4g-4a) in his last 11 games. His 48 shots paces the team… LW James Hamblin has four points (3g-1a) in his last five games… Tyler Benson leads the AHL in assists with 12… The Condors penalty kill is 2nd in the AHL at 88.9%… Cooper Marody has 19 points (11g-8a) on his AHL season-high, 11 game point streak.
REIGN NOTES
