GAME PREVIEW: CONDORS HOST STOCKTON

TONIGHT
The Bakersfield Condors host the Stockton Heat in the second game of a back-to-back at home. In the season series, the Condors have won four straight dating back to January 21 and are 6-2-0 in the opening eight games of the 12 game season series. Over the past two seasons, the Condors are 13-6-1 overall against the Heat and are 7-2-1 at home.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Bakersfield staged a dramatic third period comeback against Ontario in a 4-3 win. The Condors trailed 3-2 with under five minutes left in regulation, but C Anton Lander equalized before LW Joey LaLeggia potted his second of the night moments later to seal a 4-3 win. G Nick Ellis came into the game in relief midway thru the second period and stopped 11 shots for his ninth win of the season.

Stockton had the night off in Bakersfield last night. They snapped an 11-game winless skid on Wednesday at home in a 5-1 win over Texas. C Linden Vey had two points (1g-1a) and LW Ryan Lomberg matched him with a multi-point effort. G Jon Gillies stopped 31 of 32 in the win.

PLAYOFF PICTURE
Bakersfield and Tucson each have 21 games left in the regular season with the Condors trailing the Roadrunners by a single point. Texas is in sixth with Stockton four points back in seventh. The Condors face Tucson twice more, Texas twice more, and Stockton three times more after tonight’s contest.

HOME ICE ADVANTAGE RESTORED
Bakersfield had been winless in three ganes at home until last night’s 4-3 win over Ontario. On the season, the Condors are 14-8-2-0 at home.

CONDORS NOTES
C Anton Lander had three points last night (1g-2a), his third three-point night of the season. His 1.67 points-per-game is the most in the AHL. He has 10 points (6g-4a) in three games against the Heat… LW Joey LaLeggia has four points in his last two games (3g-1a)… Bakersfield won for the third time when trailing after two periods last night. Two have come in two-goal comebacks against Ontario… RW Taylor Beck has 13 points (4g-9a) in eight games against Stockton… G Nick Ellis is 4-1-0 against Stockton with a 2.40 GAA and a .927 save percentage.

HEAT NOTES
G David Rittich is eighth in goals-against average (2.29) and second in shutouts (4) among AHL goaltenders… C Mark Jankowski has four goals and six points in eight games against Bakersfield… LW Hunter Shinkaruk has six assists in six games against Bakersfield… G Jon Gillies has started six of the last eight games for Stockton.

KEY MATCHUPS
Tonight
San Jose @ Tucson
Stockton @ Bakersfield
Texas – off

Sunday
Texas @ Stockton

TRANSACTIONS
2/23 – C Zach Pochiro recalled from Norfolk (ECHL)
2/23 – LW Brodie Dupont signed to PTO
2/22 – D Ben Betker assigned to Norfolk (ECHL)
2/20 – D Mikael Tam assigned to Norfolk (ECHL)
2/19 – D Jordan Oesterle assigned from Edmonton (NHL)