GAME PREVIEW | Condors v San Jose
TONIGHT
The Bakersfield Condors host the league-leading San Jose Barracuda for the 11th of 12 matchups in the regular season. San Jose has won seven of the previous 10 games, but the Condors are 2-1-1 at home against the Barracuda.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Bakersfield dropped a 3-2 decision to Stockton on Saturday at home. The Condors jumped on the board first with RW Jaedon Descheneau’s first AHL tally, but Stockton answered back and eventually scored the game-winner midway thru the third period. Descheneau finished with two points, his second multi-point game in his last four outings.
San Jose did not allow a goal over the weekend in back-to-back shutout victories over Grand Rapids and San Diego. G Troy Grosenick recorded both shutouts with 22 saves in a 1-0 shootout victory over the Griffins on Saturday and a 3-0, 25-save performance on Sunday. Three different Barracuda scored on Sunday with the goals coming on the power play, shorthanded, and with an empty net.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
Bakersfield maintained their hold of fourth place thru the weekend. The Condors sit one point in front of Stockton and four points ahead of Tucson for the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division. Stockton has a three-game week as well while the Condors and Roadrunners will play their final two matchups of the regular season on Friday and Saturday.
OESTERLE HEATS UP IN 2017
Condors D Jordan Oesterle has enjoyed a nice second half to the season. Since the calendar flipped to 2017, the third-year blueliner has 16 points (2g-14a) in 20 games and is +7 during that stretch. He scored on Saturday night against Stockton for his fifth goal of the season.
CONDORS NOTES
Since Jan. 27 when the Condors sat in eighth place in the Pacific Division, the team is 11-6-1-0 and now sits in fourth… Bakersfield lost for just the fourth time in regulation on Saturday when scoring the opening goal of the game (.821%)… The Condors penalty kill is third on home ice at 88.2%. They are fifth overall at 84.3%.
BARRACUDA NOTES
Since Jan. 20, San Jose is 17-1-1-1 over their last 20 games… C Daniel O’Regan is eighth in the AHL in scoring with 50 points and leads all rookies in scoring… G Troy Grosenick leads the AHL with nine shutouts, is second in save percentage, and tied for second in wins… D Tim Heed is third in scoring among d-men with 46 points… D Joakim Ryan is tied for second in plus/minus among blueliners at +28.
KEY MATCHUPS
Tomorrow
Stockton @ San Diego
Friday
Bakersfield @ Tucson
Stockton @ San Jose
Saturday
Bakersfield @ Tucson
Stockton v San Jose
TRANSACTIONS
3/13 – RW Zach Pochiro reassigned to Norfolk (ECHL)