Condors Sweep Utah, Tied For First In Pacific Division
March 12, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors brought out the brooms in Utah last week and swept the Grizzlies in the team's final three meetings of the season. Sweeping the Grizzlies was not the only highlight of the week as the Condors also moved back into first place in the Pacific Division and officially clinched a playoff berth.
Wednesday night the Grizzlies and Condors battled to a shootout, with the Condors taking the 2-1 win. It was the Condors' fourth game out of the last five that went to a shootout. Friday night saw much of the same intensity as the Condors and Grizzlies once again battled to overtime. Todd Griffith notched the game-winner in overtime for the 5-4 win. The win also clinched a playoff spot for the Condors. The Condors continued their winning ways on Saturday night closing out the season series with the Grizzlies by shutting them out, 4-0. The Condors are 36-13-10 on the season, including 20-7-2 at The Nest and 16-6-8 on the road. The Condors match-up with the Phoenix RoadRunners on Tuesday and Thursday before heading to Long Beach for a Friday face-off. The Condors return to The Nest Saturday to face Stockton. Doors open at 6 p.m., puck drops at 7 p.m.
Overall Record: 36-13-10 (82 points)
Pacific Division: T-1st
National Conference: T-2nd
Last Week: 3-0-0
THIS WEEK (ALL TIMES PACIFIC)
Tuesday, March 13 @ Phoenix (7:11 p.m.)
Thursday, March 15 @ Phoenix (7:11 p.m.)
Friday, March 16 @ Long Beach (7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, March 17 vs. Stockton (7:00 p.m.)
WEEK IN REVIEW:
Wednesday, March 7:
CONDORS 2 @ Utah 1 SO (Attendance: 2,629)
Utah jumped out early, taking a 1-0 first period lead. The Condors answered back at 13:58 in the second when Brett Lutes scored his 24th of the year. Both teams were held scoreless in the third period and the extra session, sending the game to a shootout. Todd Griffith scored the game-winning shootout goal in the fifth round to give the Condors the win.
Friday, March 9:
CONDORS 5 @ Utah 4 OT (Attendance: 3,580)
The Condors scored first for the first time in five games during their road trip when Kevin Truelson beat Rob McVicar with a short- handed goal at 13:59 in the first. Utah bounced back with three unanswered goals, but the Condors didn't back down and scored three unanswered goals of their own. The game was sent to overtime where Griffith knocked home the game-winner 2:03 into the extra session and clinched the Condors playoff spot.
Saturday, March 10:
CONDORS 4 @ Utah 0 (Attendance: 4,796)
Jamie Hodson stopped 31 shots to record his second shutout of the season and help keep the Condors climb back into first place in the Pacific Division. Both Lutes and Rane Carnegie were the only scorers of the night, each notching two goals each.
PLAYER NOTES:
Todd Griffith and Brett Lutes lead the team with 26 goals apiece
Sean Venedam leads the team with 64 points (24g, 40a)
Alex Kim was transferred from the 3-day IR to the 7-day IR, eligible to come off March 13
Steve Rodberg remains on the 30-day IR, eligible to come off March 19
Andrew Oke remains on the 30-day IR
Ryan Van Buskirk, the defenseman the Condors secured via a trade with Florida at the deadline, has a broken foot and is done for the season, and the deal will be voided.
TEAM NOTES:
The Condors are now 4-0-2 on their current road trip
The Condors ended their season series with the Utah Grizzlies with a 6-1-0 record
Eight different Condors have scored during their first six games of this road trip
The Condors set a new franchise record for most consecutive games that ended past regulation at six games, from Feb 27-Mar 9. The previous record for most consecutive games played past regulation was four set in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. ***Note - WCHL games did not have an overtime session and went directly to a shootout.
PROMOTIONAL NOTES:
The Condors return to The Nest on Saturday against the Stockton Thunder, as Bright House Networks, 101.5 KGFM and American Business Machines present SpongeBob Squarepants and the St. Patrick's Day Jersey Raffle and Auction. SpongeBob will be live and in-person to entertain the crowd, plus five lucky fans will win special game-worn St. Patrick's Day jerseys, with proceeds from the auction donated to Kern Adult Literacy Council.
BROADCAST INFO:
You can catch all Condors games live on KGEO Hot Talk AM1230 with Jake Stevens calling all the action. Most games are also available to view courtesy of B2 Networks. Just click the "Watch the Game Live" link on the Condors home page. Live streaming for all Condors games is also available via their web site, www.bakersfieldcondors.com. For more information or to reserve ticket packages, contact the Condors office at 324-PUCK (7825).
LEAGUE LEADERS:
Bakersfield - 5,710 Average Attendance (4th)
Overall Team Wins - 36 (3rd)
Overall Team Points - 82 (T-2nd)
Overall Team Winning Percentage - 69.5% (2nd)
Team Goals Scored - 226 (4th)
Team Overall Penalty Killing - 84.7% (6th)
Team Home Penalty Killing - 85.3% (7th)
Team Overall Power-play - 17.0% (9th)
Josh Liebenow - 6 Game- winning goals (T-2nd)
Todd Griffith - 26 Rookie Goals (2nd)
Jamie Hodson - 26 Wins (T-4th)
Individual game tickets are now 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 www.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).
ECHL Stories from March 12, 2007
- Community and Promotions Update - Victoria Salmon Kings
- St. Patrick's Day Jersey Auction This Saturday - Bakersfield Condors
- Kowalski gets call to NHL - Florida Everblades
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- Kelly Cup Comes To Phoenix Tuesday - Phoenix RoadRunners
- ECHL This Week - ECHL
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- Chiefs weekly - Johnstown Chiefs
- Graham loaned to Charlotte from Hartford - Charlotte Checkers
- Nailers Weekly Recap - Wheeling Nailers
- Ice Pilots Weekly - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Grizzlies Continue Playoff Push Thursday In Victoria - Utah Grizzlies
- Lynx weekly - Augusta Lynx
- Gladiators Playoff March Update - Atlanta Gladiators
- Condors Sweep Utah, Tied For First In Pacific Division - Bakersfield Condors
- Wranglers host Fresno Tuesday, Phoenix Friday - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Matchups Set With Playoff-Paced Idaho and Bakersfield - Stockton Thunder
- Kelly Cup comes to Long Beach (for a visit) - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Stingrays Weekly - South Carolina Stingrays
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- Fresno Falcons Weekly - Fresno Falcons
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- Dayton Bombers Weekly - Dayton Bombers
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