Condors Weekly: Bakersfield keeps pace with 2-2-0-0 week

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif.- After playing 11 of their previous 12 games on the road, the Condors returned to Rabobank Arena hosting four games, including three games in three nights against Ontario, and going 2-2-0-0 on the week.

The Condors have 55 points on the season, which places them third in the Pacific Division, trailing the 2nd place Stockton Thunder – this week’s opponent for three games – by eight points in the standings.

THIS WEEK (ALL TIMES PACIFIC):

Tuesday, Feb. 22 @ Stockton (7 p.m.)

Friday, Feb. 25 vs. Stockton (7 p.m.)

Saturday, Feb. 26 vs. Stockton (12 p.m.)

WEEK IN REVIEW (Home team in CAPS):

Tuesday, Feb. 15

Victoria 7 vs. CONDORS 2

Attn: 2,878

Victoria scored 43 seconds into the game and pumped home three Phil Paquetpower play goals before the end of the second period, taking a 5-0 lead into the third period. The Condors began to rally with goals from D Jay Cascalenda and F Bobby Robins, but the Salmon Kings struck back with two goals in final 4 minutes, including a fourth on the power play, to take down the Condors 7-2.

Friday, Feb. 18

CONDORS 5 vs. Ontario 4, SO

Attn: 4,811

The Condors surrendered a goal in the first minute of the game, but bounced back to take a 2-1 lead with goals by F Michael Gergen at 6:33 of the second and C Joel Broda just over a minute later. Ontario regained the lead with two quick goals in the third, but F Andrew Ianiero later tied it up. Another Reign tally midway through the third had Ontario poised to take the win, but Broda rallied the home team with his second of the night with just 1:01 left in regulation to send the game into overtime. After a scoreless overtime, RW Stephane Goulet scored as the first shooter in the shootout, and G Brian Stewart stopped all five shots as the Condors won 5-4.

Saturday, Feb. 19
CONDORS 7 vs. Ontario 3

Attn: 6,056

Bakersfield received a pair of goals from RW Pascal Morency and LW Guillaume Lefebvre, and LW Brad Snetsinger chipped in with three assists to lead the Condors to a 7-3 triumph on Saturday night. The Condors exploded with four third period goals to turn a one-goal game into a rout. Bakersfield again attacked the Ontario net with over 50 shots, and scored twice on the power play.

Sunday, Feb. 20

Ontario 4 vs. CONDORS 2

Attn: 4,028

Fifty-plus shots were not enough on Sunday as the Reign received a stellar performance from G Mike Zacharias and scored three times in the second frame to take a 4-2 victory in the weekend finale. LW Guillaume Lefebvre and F Michael Gergen both scored goals to erase one goal deficits for Bakersfield, but it wasn’t enough. The Condors out-shot Ontario 51-24.

PLAYER AND TEAM NOTES:

  • The Condors recorded their highest shot total of the year on Friday, firing 54 shots on goal. It was their highest since March, 2009, and was 6 shots shy of their franchise record of 60, set on April 1, 2005, against Fresno.
  • Head Coach Marty Raymond coached in his 500th game as Condors Head Coach on Friday, steering the team to 5-4 shootout win. He followed it up with his 250th win on Saturday, and has more wins with the Condors than any other coach has games.
  • F Slava Trukhno returned to the Condors from Peoria (AHL) on Friday and picked up 3 assists in his first game back that night. He added a goal in Saturday’s win.
  • RW Erick Lizon finished serving a nine game league suspension and returned to the Condors lineup on Sunday. It was his first game since Jan. 28 in Alaska.
  • D Phil Paquet made his Condors debut on Friday. He came to Bakersfield last week in exchange for D J.F. David and picked up his first point as a Condor with an assist on Saturday.
  • Sunday’s game was just the third loss in 12 meetings for Bakersfield against the Reign this season. It was also the first home loss against Ontario in six meetings. They have three head-to-head games left, including a two-game series in Bakersfield in mid-March.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:(all practice times subject to change)
Tuesday, Feb. 22 -Morning skate @ Rabobank Arena, 10 a.m.; Game @ Stockton, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 23 – TBA

Thursday, Feb. 24 – Practice @ Rabobank Arena, 10 a.m.

Friday, Feb. 25 – Morning skate @ Rabobank Arena, 10 a.m.; Game vs. Stockton @ Rabobank Arena, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 26 – Morning skate @ Rabobank Arena, 10 a.m.; Game vs. Stockton @ Rabobank Arena, 12 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 27 – Day Off

Monday, Feb. 28 – TBA

ON THE DOCKET:

The Condors head to Stockton on Tuesday before hosting a pair of games against the Thunder at Rabobank Arena on Friday and Saturday. The Zooperstars are in town for Friday’s game, sponsored by ABC23, 101.5 KGFM, and Mercy and Memorial Hospitals. Click here to see the promotional schedule.

All three games this week can be heard in their entirety online at foxsports970am.com, and on your smartphone through the Brian Stewartiheartradio app. You can also watch the games streaming live through America One. Saturday’s game can also be seen live on Bright House Networks Cable Channel 21, or heard on Fox Sports Radio 970 AM.

CONDORS LEAGUE LEADERS:

Condors – 5,108 Average Attendance: (5th, ECHL)

Condors – 57 major penalties (3rd, ECHL)

Condors – 1,159 PIM (3rd, ECHL)

G Josh Tordjman – 982 saves (4th, ECHL)

G Josh Tordjman – 1,973 minutes (5th, ECHL)

G Josh Tordjman – 3 shutouts (t-1st, ECHL)

LW Brad Snetsinger – 192 shots on goal (3rd, ECHL)

C Rylan Kaip – 24.2% shooting pct (2nd, ECHL)

RW Erick Lizon – 166 PIM (2nd, ECHL)

F Michael Gergen – 4 shootout goals (t-1st, ECHL)

CONDORS LEADERS:

Points: LW Brad Snetsinger, 44

Goals: RW Stephane Goulet, 18

Assists: LW Brad Snetsinger, 28

PIM: RW Erick Lizon, 166

+/-: D Erik Burgdoerfer, +11

GAA: G Brian Stewart, 2.89

Save %: G Josh Tordjman, .911

Wins: G Josh Tordjman, 15
Get Tickets:

The Condors are back at Rabobank Arena to host the Stockton Thunder on Friday with the ZOOperstars in town! Visit http://bakersfieldcondors.com/web/category/schedule/ for more information and the Condors promotional schedule.

Individual Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster and the Rabobank Arena Box Office. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with extended hours on game and event days. You can also call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or visit them online at www.ticketmaster.com. Group outings are also available for 20 or more people. Lower level group tickets also include a free Condors hat! Call the Condors at 324-PUCK(7825) for more info.