GAME PREVIEW: Condors v San Jose
The Bakersfield Condors play their third consecutive game against San Jose. So far, the Condors are 1-2-0 against the Barracuda this season, having most recently split a two-game set in San Jose over this past weekend. San Jose took the only previous meeting in Bakersfield, 2-1, on Sunday, Dec. 3.
Bakersfield received a two-assist night from LW Ryan Hamilton and RW Ty Rattie scored for the second consecutive game, but San Jose skated away with a 3-2 win on Sunday afternoon at SAP Center. G Nick Ellis started for the second straight game since being reassigned by Edmonton. C Josh Currie extended his point streak to four games.
San Jose won for the first time in four home games, 3-2, on Sunday. LW Rudolfs Balcers scored twice in the second period with his second of the frame turning out to be the game winner. G Troy Grosenick returned from injury and picked up the win with 32 saves on 34 shots.
Bakersfield and San Jose are the two least penalized teams in the American Hockey League. The Condors are 29th at 10.72 minutes per game and the Barracuda average the fewest penalty minutes in the league at 10.46. In the majors category, the Condors have 6 which is third from the bottom while San Jose’s three majors are the fewest in the AHL.
C Josh Currie enters tonight’s game with a four-game point streak (1g-4a)… G Nick Ellis had his season high three-game winning streak snapped in Sunday’s loss… The Condors have scored the opening goal of the game in eight of their last 10 and are 7-3-3 when scoring first.
G Antoine Bibeau is sixth in the AHL in goals-against average at 2.27… In addition to leading the team in scoring, LW Rudolfs Balcers is tied for 10th in rookie scoring with 19 points (5g-14a)… RW Adam Helewka’s first period penalty shot Sunday was the first against the Condors this season… The Barracuda penalty kill is fourth overall at at 86.3% and second on the road at 91.8%… San Jose has been outscored 22-14 in the first period.