Condors double up Ontario, edge closer in playoff race

CONDORSTOWN, Calif. – F Jacob Lagace scored twice to lead the Bakersfield Condors (19-39-2-3, 43pts) to a 4-2 win over the Ontario Reign (41-15-3-3, 88pts) Friday night at Rabobank Arena. The win, coupled with a San Francisco loss, puts the Condors six points behind S.F. for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Highlights from the night

Post-game comments from Lagace, O’Dette

Bakersfield drew first blood early in the opening frame, with Lagace firing in his 15th of the season just 2:36 into the game. Lagace’s goal came off a rebound of an opportunity by newly acquired F Shawn Skelly. After the goal, the Condors got into penalty trouble, taking 10 minutes of infractions and giving the Reign three power play opportunities. But they held the 1-0 lead through 20 minutes.

The Reign continued to get power play chances the next period and finally connected. They erased the deficit with a pair of man-advantage tallies in the span of less than a minute early in the second to make it 2-1 Ontario. The Condors bounced back to tie it up at 17:12, with F Nicholas Tremblay burying a crowd-pleasing backhander on a breakaway for his 14th of the campaign. G Scott Greenham had 20 saves through 40 minutes in the Condors cage.

The Condors power play put them back in front less than four minutes into the third, when RW Scott Freeman’s centering feed redirected past G Chris Carrozzi for the 3-2 advantage. Lagace put an exclamation point on the win with a semi-breakaway goal at 17:52. Greenham finished the night with 29 saves for his 11th win of the season.

Tonight’s box score: click here.

Condors droppings:

All four goals this season by RW Scott Freeman have been game-winning goals… F Nicholas Tremblay scored in his return from the AHL. He went up to the Providence Bruins on Feb. 20… Newcomer F Shawn Skelly had two assists in the game… Condors scratches: D Ryan Annesley, F Francis Verreault, D Deron Cousens and D Dale Warkentin… Shots on goal: BAK – 22, ONT – 31… Power plays: BAK – 1/5; ONT – 2/6… Three Stars: 1. Lagace (BAK), 2. Freeman (BAK), 3. Tremblay (BAK).

Goaltender Bobbleheads on Saturday!

On Saturday, Mar. 9 the first 2,000 fans 5 and older will get a dual bobblehead of goaltending tandem Scott Greenham and Brian Stewart, sponsored by Fox Sports 970AM and Three-Way Chevrolet-Cadillac.

Tune in to all the action on Fox Sports Radio 970 AM, www.foxsports970am.com or on America One. “Condors Countdown” starts 15 minutes before the drop of the puck.
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