ECHL Bakersfield Condors

Condors Unbeaten in Last Seven Games, Nine out of Last Ten

Published on February 23, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors extended their unbeaten streak to seven straight games (6-0-1), posting an ECHL best 8-1-1 record over their last 10 games. Bakersfield finished the week with a 3-0-1 record, including a 5-2 victory against the Victoria Salmon Kings to conclude the 5th annual Condors Fighting Cancer Hockey-Thon on Sunday.

The Condors sit in 4th place in the Pacific Division at 22-27-7 with 51 points in the standings, just two points behind the Stockton Thunder for 3rd place in the division. The Condors lead the Phoenix RoadRunners by two points for 8th place in the National Conference standings, though Phoenix has a slight advantage in winning percentage. The two teams will meet this Saturday in Phoenix.

THIS WEEK (ALL TIMES PACIFIC):

Tuesday, Feb. 24 vs. Alaska (7 p.m.)

Saturday, Feb. 28 @ Phoenix (6:05 p.m.)

Sunday, March 1 vs. Las Vegas (5 p.m.)

WEEK IN REVIEW (Home team in CAPS):

Monday, Feb. 16

Condors 4 vs. UTAH 3, SO

Facing a 3-2 deficit late in the third period, F Andrew Ianiero (right) netted the game-tying goal with just 47 seconds remaining in regulation, sending the game to overtime and eventually the shootout, which the Condors won for the 4-3 victory. F Matt Pope scored the lone goal of the seven-round shootout, while G Yutaka Fukufuji stopped all seven Grizzlies shooters, as well as 36 of 39 shots in the game, for the win.

Wednesday, Feb. 18

Condors 6 vs. UTAH 5

With the score tied 4-4 after two, the Condors lit the lamp twice in the third period to win their fifth consecutive game, 6-5. Utah claimed a one-goal lead early in the third, but Bakersfield came back with goals from RW Chad Painchaud and F Dave Bonk (left), who netted the eventual game-winner with just five minutes remaining in the game. Painchaud and Bonk also scored in the first period, while C Bruce Graham and F Matt Pope pitched in with goals as well. G Yutaka Fukufuji made 35 saves in the win.

Saturday, Feb. 21

Victoria 4 vs. CONDORS 3, SO

Attn: 5,178

Victoria tied the game with exactly 60 seconds remaining in the third period, sending the game to overtime and eventually the shootout, which the Salmon Kings took for the 4-3 win. The Condors scored a goal in each period, receiving a pair of power play tallies from F Dave Bonk as well as the temporary go-ahead goal early in the third from RW Chad Painchaud. G Dave McKee (right) stopped 28 of 31 shots in the game.

Sunday, Feb. 22

CONDORS 5 vs. Victoria 2

Attn: 4,155

LW Mark Derlago (left) netted his second hat trick of the season to lead the Condors to a 5-2 win against Victoria on Sunday. After the Salmon Kings tied it at 2-2 early in the third period, Painchaud scored his second of the game and Derlago completed the trick with a pair of tallies, lifting the Condors to the three-goal win. F Dave Bonk registered an assist on four of the five goals, while G Dave McKee stopped 28 of 30 shots for the victory.

PLAYER AND TEAM NOTES:

The Condors are 2nd in the league in average attendance at 5,672 fans per game. In addition to their seven-game unbeaten streak (6-0-1) and league best 8-1-1 record in their last 10 games, the Condors are also currently on a five-game home unbeaten streak (4-0-1) and four-game road winning streak.

The line of LW Mark Derlago (3g-2a), RW Chad Painchaud (2g-3a) (right) and F Dave Bonk (0g-4a) combined for 14 points in the Condors 5-2 win against Victoria on Sunday. Four Condors rank in the top 20 in the ECHL in scoring: RW Chad Painchaud (4th - 64pts), F Matt Pope (6th - 60pts), F Dave Bonk (t-11th - 54pts) and LW Mark Derlago (t-20th - 48pts).

F Dave Bonk led the ECHL with 11 points (4g-7a) in four games last week, and was followed by RW Chad Painchaud (5g-5a-10pts) and LW Mark Derlago (3g-7a-10pts).

RW Chad Painchaud (11g-10a-21pts), LW Mark Derlago (9g-12a-21pts) and F Dave Bonk (6g-14a-20pts) also lead the ECHL in points for the month of February. They have each played 12 games this month.

F Dave Bonk is on a seven-game point streak (5g-11a).

F Matt Pope is on a six-game point streak (3g-7a). He leads the team and ranks 5th in the ECHL (3rd among rookies) with 29 goals. Pope is just one-goal shy of becoming only the ninth player in Condors history to score 30 in a season. He broke LW Mark Derlago's rookie record for points in a season (57) on Feb. 16.

RW Chad Painchaud is 2nd in the ECHL with 44 assists. He is currently on a three-game point streak (5g-5a).

LW Mark Derlago is also on a three-game point streak (3g-7a), and is averaging a team-high 1.45 points per game with 48 points in 33 games with the Condors this season.

G Yutaka Fukufuji (right) has won six of his last seven starts, including a current four game-winning streak. Over that stretch, he has posted a .908 save percentage. The Condors had a streak of 14 straight games with a power play goal end on Sunday. They currently have the top ranked power play in the National Conference and are 5th in the ECHL at 20.3%.

RW Liam Huculak was activated on Sunday and skated in his first game since Jan. 30. F Matt Pope was placed on the 3-IR on Sunday and is eligible to be activated on Wednesday. D Jay Langager was transferred from the 3-IR to the 7-IR on Sunday, and is eligible to be activated since he was originally placed on the IR on Feb. 8. C Brett Pilkington remains on the 30-IR and is eligible to be activated on March 8, while LW Bobby Bolt remains on the 30-IR, though he is eligible to be activated.

FAT TUESDAY CANNED FOOD COLLECTION AND DORA THE EXPLORER AT THE NEST THIS WEEK: The Condors conclude their three-game homestand with a game against the Alaska Aces on Tuesday, featuring the Fat Tuesday Canned Food Collection, sponsored by My 45, 106.1 KRAB Radio and Orion Payment Systems. All fans that donate two non-perishable food items receive $1 terrace level admission to the game and some cool beads as part of the Condors Mardi Gras celebration! Doors open at 6 p.m., the puck drops at 7 p.m.

The Condors then hit the road for Phoenix to take on the RoadRunners this Saturday at 6:05 p.m. Catch all the action on ESPN Radio 1230, B2 Networks and Bakersfieldcondors.com, and be sure to tune in 15 minutes early for Condors Countdown! This game is a rescheduled game and not on the original docket.

Bakersfield returns to the Mercy and Memorial Hospitals Home Ice on Sunday evening to host the Las Vegas Wranglers as well as Dora the Explorer, presented by Bright House Networks and La Preciosa 105.3. Dora will be at the game to meet and take pictures with fans in the Condors Photo Booth, located on the concourse behind section 111. Doors open at 4 p.m., the puck drops at 5 p.m. Please note the revised start time for Sunday's game, due to the rescheduled game in Phoenix on Saturday night.

Sunday will also be a Bright House Networks Family Night, during which Bright House subscribers can receive $7 admission to the game by presenting the coupon available in their cable bill at the Rabobank Arena Box Office. Additionally, Sunday is a Bright House Networks, Bakersfield Californian, and Wells Fargo Kids Club Night, when all Kids Club members receive free admission to the game. Students who have met academic goals in the classroom will also be in attendance through the Condors T.H.I.N.K. educational program, sponsored by Mercy and Memorial Hospitals and Diamond Technologies.

In addition to being broadcast on ESPN Radio 1230, B2 Networks and Bakersfieldcondors.com, Sunday evening's game will be televised live on Bright House Networks Ch. 21 and available On Demand on Ch. 300 starting Monday.

GET TICKETS 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 - 5,672 (2nd)

RW Chad Painchaud - 64 points (4th)

RW Chad Painchaud - 44 assists (2nd)

F Matt Pope - 29 goals (3rd rookies, 5th overall)

F Matt Pope - 60 points (3rd rookies, 6th overall)

F Matt Pope - 14 power play goals (t-1st rookies, t-3rd overall)

F Dave Bonk - 54 points (t-11th)

LW Mark Derlago - 48 points (t-20th)

Condors Power Play - 20.3% (1st National Conference, 5th overall)

CONDORS LEADERS:

Points- RW Chad Painchaud (64)

Goals- F Matt Pope (29)

Assists- RW Chad Painchaud (44)

PIM- RW Liam Huculak (123)

GAA- G Yutaka Fukufuji and G Dave McKee (3.55)

Save Percentage- G Yutaka Fukufuji (.901)

Check out the Bakersfield Condors Statistics

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ECHL Stories from February 23, 2009


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