Condors Weekly: Three in three this weekend

CONDORSTOWN, Calif. – The Bakersfield Condors continued their series with the powerhouse Idaho Steelheads last week, in an unprecedented six straight games against their old rivals. They went 1-2-0-0, picking up a thrilling win on home ice Wednesday night, while falling in two weekend games in Idaho. They face Idaho for the final two times this weekend, on home ice, while heading to San Francisco on Sunday to wrap up their 3-in-3 weekend.

The Condors are currently 8-25-1-2 with 19 points in the standings.

COMING UP:
Friday, Jan. 11 vs. Idaho (7 p.m.)

LAST WEEK (Home team in CAPS):
Wednesday
CONDORS 2 vs. Idaho 1 (SO)
Bakersfield and Idaho met in a classic goaltenders duel Wednesday, with G Scott Greenham and Steelheads G Tyler Beskorowany combining for 99 saves through regulation and the shootout, with the Condors taking a 2-1 victory. F Liam Huculak gave the Condors a 1-0 lead in the third period, while Idaho answered to force extra time. After 17 shootout attempts were denied, D Deron Cousens scored the game winner to end it.

After falling behind 3-0, Condors F’s Peter Boyd and Francis Verreault scored pull the Condors within reach at 3-2 early in the third. But the Steelheads rallied with four unanswered third period goals to cruise to the win. Verreault and Boyd each added an assist on the night as well for multi-point efforts.

• F Liam Huculak, who scored a goal in two of the last three games, announced his intention to retire from hockey on Monday. Huculak is going to pursue other career opportunities.
• F Francis Verreault, F Max Campbell and D Kyle Haines each made their Condors debut in Idaho over the weekend. The trio were acquired in trades last week. D Dale Warkentin debuted with the team last Wednesday.
• Verreault had 2g-1a in the two games in Idaho, and added a “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” on Friday with a goal, assist and a fight.
• Rookie F Brett Lyon scored his first career goal on Saturday.
• G Scott Greenham improved to 25-for-26 in the shootout. His .962 save pct in shootouts is second (only to a goaltender who has faced five shootout attempts) in the league, while his five shootout wins leads the ECHL.
• Greenham is 2-for-2 this season on penalty shots. He stopped his second of the season Saturday night in the third period against C Justin Dowling.

• G Scott Greenham is 4th in the ECHL with 630 saves.
• F Peter Boyd leads the ECHL with five shootout goals.
• F Daniel Koger is 2nd in the ECHL with four shootout goals.
• G Scott Greenham leads the league lead with five shootout wins and is 2nd with a .962 shootout save percentage.
• F Brett Lyon (right) is 3rd among ECHL rookies with nine major penalties.
• F Francis Verreault is 13th in the ECHL in rookie scoring, just eight points off the league lead.
• Verreault is one of only three rookies in the league with multiple shootout goals.
• D Tyson Gimblett leads all ECHL defensemen with ten major penalties (nine of which are fighting majors).
• The Condors rank 3rd in the shootouts with a .846 save percentage.

TEAM LEADERS
Points – F Francis Verreault (24)
Goals – F Francis Verreault (9)
Assists – F Francis Verreault (15)
PIM – D Tyson Gimblett (102)
+/- – F Francis Verreault (+8)