ECHL Bakersfield Condors

Condors split weekend series against Alaska

January 12, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors split a two-game weekend series with the Alaska Aces, highlighted by a 3-2 win on Saturday night in which G Yutaka Fukufuji stopped 43 of 45 shots. Both games over the weekend were decided by just one goal. The Condors conclude their homestand with a pair of games this week before heading to Phoenix this weekend.

The Condors sit in 4th place in the Pacific Division, at 12-19-4 with 28 points in the standings. They trail the Las Vegas Wranglers and Stockton Thunder, who are tied for 2nd place, by five points.

THIS WEEK (ALL TIMES PACIFIC):

Wednesday, Jan. 14 vs. Las Vegas (7 p.m.)

Friday, Jan. 16 vs. Phoenix (7 p.m.)

Saturday, Jan. 17 @ Phoenix (6:05 p.m.)

Sunday, Jan. 18 @ Phoenix (4:05 p.m.)

WEEK IN REVIEW (Home team in CAPS):

Friday, Jan. 9

Alaska 6 vs. CONDORS 5

Attn: 5,316

After Alaska took a 5-2 first period lead, the Condors battled back throughout the second and third, out-scoring the Aces 3-1, before coming up just short by the 6-5 final score. C Dave Bonk and RW Mike Wirll (right) both scored a pair of goals, and rookie F Matt Pope netted his 20th of the season in the final minute to pull Bakersfield within one. G Dave McKee took over in net to start the second period and stopped 23 of 24 shots, but suffered the loss, while F Andrew Ianiero registered a career-high four assists.

Saturday, Jan. 10

CONDORS 3 vs. Alaska 2

Attn: 6,285

G Yutaka Fukufuji (left) stopped 43 of 45 shots to backstop the Condors to a 3-2 win against the Aces on Saturday. Both teams tallied in the first period, before Bakersfield pulled away with a pair in the second stanza to go up 3-1. C Brett Pilkington, C Dave Bonk and F Andrew Ianiero were the Condors goal-scorers. Alaska added one in the third, but Fukufuji made 19 saves in the final frame to keep the Condors ahead and earn the win.

PLAYER AND TEAM NOTES:

The Condors are 2nd in the league in average attendance at 6,098 fans per game.

F Andrew Ianiero has 1g-5a during his current three-game point streak.

F Matt Pope (right) recorded his team-leading 11th multi-point game with two assists on Saturday. RW Chad Painchaud also had two assists for his 10th multi-point game, second on the team.

Pope is tied for 4th in the league in goals with 20 (t-2nd among rookies) and tied for 11th in points with 35 (t-3rd among rookies). He is also tied for 4th in the league with 9 power play goals.

Painchaud's (right) back-to-back two-assist games last weekend have him tied for 17th in the league with 34 points. He leads the team with 26 assists.

Both wins by G Yutaka Fukufuji this season have come when he has stopped over 40 shots. Saturday's game was also his 100th as a Condor.

The Condors power play scored twice against the Aces, who have the top-ranked penalty kill in the ECHL, on Saturday night, and now ranks 5th in the league at 19.6%.

The Condors out-scored the Aces, 6-3, during the last five periods of hockey over the weekend.

Bakersfield's 51 shots on Friday were a season high.

D Donny Grover was added to the roster on Saturday and subsequently placed on the 3-IR. He will be eligible to be activated on Tuesday. D Chris Kaufman (7-IR) and LW Bobby Bolt (30-IR) remain on the IR, though both are eligible to be activated. D Sean Hurley remains on the 30-IR and is eligible to return on Jan. 27.

STUDENT ID NIGHT WEDNESDAY, SOAP DISPENSER GIVEAWAY FRIDAY:

The Condors continue their homestand Wednesday night against the Las Vegas Wranglers for High School / College ID Night, sponsored by 106.1 KRAB Radio and Valley Air District. Students can receive lower bowl admission for just $1 by presenting their student ID at the arena box office! Doors open at 6 p.m., the puck drops at 7 p.m.

The Condors then kick off a three-game series against the Phoenix RoadRunners on Friday night. That game will feature the first-ever Condors Soap Dispenser Giveaway, sponsored by KBFX-FOX 58 and Cal Water. The first 2,000 kids, 12-and-under, will receive a Colonel Claw'd Soap Dispenser, sure to be a centerpiece around sinks all over Condorstown! Doors open at 6 p.m., the puck drops at 7 p.m.

The series then shifts southeast to Phoenix, as the Condors and RoadRunners face off for a pair of weekend games at U.S. Airways Center. The two teams will meet on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. and Sunday at 4:05 p.m., and both games will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio 1230, B2 Networks and Bakersfieldcondors.com.

Individual game tickets are on sale and may be purchased through the Rabobank Arena Box Office, which is open from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday with extended hours on game days. Tickets may also be purchased by phone at 322-2525, online at Bakersfieldcondors.com, or at any Ticketmaster location. Season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available at the Condors office located at 1001 Truxtun Avenue or by calling 324-PUCK (7825).

LEAGUE LEADERS:

Average Attendance - 6,098 (2nd)

F Matt Pope - 20 goals (t-2nd rookies, t-4th overall)

F Matt Pope - 35 points (t-3rd rookies, t-11th overall)

F Matt Pope - 9 power play goals (t-4th)

RW Chad Painchaud - 26 assists (7th)

RW Chad Painchaud - 34 points (t-17th)

Condors Power Play - 19.6% (5th)

CONDORS LEADERS:

Points- F Matt Pope (35)

Goals- F Matt Pope (20)

Assists- RW Chad Painchaud (26)

PIM- RW Liam Huculak (104)

Plus/Minus- LW Mark Derlago (+2)

GAA- G Dave McKee (3.46)

Save Percentage- G Yutaka Fukufuji (.903)

Check out the Bakersfield Condors Statistics



ECHL Stories from January 12, 2009


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