Playoff race heating up for Condors
March 16, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Bakersfield Condors earned a split with the Utah Grizzlies over a two-game weekend set, which included a dramatic 6-4 come-from-behind victory on Friday night in front of nearly 6,700 fans at Rabobank Arena. The 1-1-0 week improved the Condors record to 13-4-1 over their last 18 games, good enough to remain among the hottest teams in the league.
The Condors sit in 4th place in the Pacific Division at 27-30-7 with 61 points in the standings. The Condors lead the Phoenix RoadRunners by .018 win percentage in the National Conference standings, the deciding factor for a playoff berth. They trail the 3rd place Stockton Thunder by just two points in the Pacific Division standings, with a game on the docket this weekend against their neighbors to the north.
THIS WEEK (ALL TIMES PACIFIC):
Wednesday, March 18 vs. Utah (7 p.m.)
Friday, March 20 vs. Utah (7 p.m.)
Saturday, March 21 @ Stockton (7:30 p.m.)
WEEK IN REVIEW (Home team in CAPS):
Friday, March 13
CONDORS 6 vs. Utah 4
Attn: 6,698
F Andrew Ianiero scored once in the second, and then added two goals in the third to erase a deficit, net the hat trick and carry the Condors to a 6-4 win over the visiting Utah Grizzlies Friday night. C Dave Bonk and LW Mark Derlago each had 1g-1a in the win, while G Yutaka Fukufuji picked up his seventh straight victory in a relief appearance. C Danny LaPointe also scored for the Condors, leading to their fifth consecutive victory against the Grizzlies in the season series.
Saturday, March 14
Utah 4 vs. CONDORS 3
Attn: 5,444
After a scoreless opening frame, Utah lit the lamp twice in the second stanza and twice in the third, and never trailed in a 4-3 win over the Condors Saturday night. F Andrew Ianiero, C Dave Bonk and RW Mike Wirll all scored for the Condors, whose comeback attempt late in the game fell just short. G Yutaka Fukufuji suffered the loss between the pipes for the first time since Feb. 10 (also against the Grizzlies, in Utah).
PLAYER AND TEAM NOTES:
The Condors are 4th in the league in average attendance at 5,543 fans per game.
The Condors have four scorers among the Top 8 in ECHL scoring - C Dave Bonk (right) (4th - 70pts), LW Mark Derlago (6th - 65pts), RW Chad Painchaud (7th - 64pts), F Matt Pope (t-8th - 63pts). The quartet was featured on Monday on ECHL.com.
Bakersfield donned special Bakersfield Brontos jerseys on Saturday night for 'What Could Have Been' Jersey Off Our Backs Raffle & Auction. The jerseys brought in $19,500 for the Petroleum Shrine Club, with F Andrew Ianiero's jersey bringing in the highest bid of $1,700.
G Yutaka Fukufuji equaled his career best Friday with his seventh consecutive victory. Fukufuji has won nine of his last 11 decisions.
F Andrew Ianiero had four goals in two games last week, including his first hat trick of the season. His goal Saturday night matched a career high as his 20th of the season.
Bakersfield has had five hat tricks this season - two by LW Mark Derlago, and one each by RW Mike Wirll, F Andrew Ianiero, F Tylor Michel (right).
F Matt Pope remains in Binghamton (AHL), where he has 2g-1a in four games.
RW Chad Painchaud had 1g-1a for Iowa (AHL) on Saturday, and has 2g-3a in six games, with a plus-5 rating since his reassignment in late February.
LW Bobby Bolt remains on the 30-IR, though he is eligible to be activated.
HOMESTAND WRAPS UP WITH BOBBLEHEADS, $1 TICKETS:
The Condors battle Utah two more times this week to wrap up their four-game homestand. Wednesday is High School/College ID Night, giving students the chance to purchase lower level tickets for just $1 by presenting their student ID at the box office, sponsored by My 45 and 106.1 KRAB Radio. Wednesday's game is also the My First Library Book Collection. Any fan donating a new or gently used children's book can receive $1 admission, as part of the Bakersfield Californian's book drive that benefits less fortunate local school children.
On Friday the Condors battle the Grizzlies for the final time in the regular season, for Matt Caruana Bobblehead Giveaway, sponsored by ABC23 and U.S. Army. The first 2,000 kids, 12-and-under will get a bobblehead of the Anaheim Ducks prospect, who was leading the team in goals at the time of his recall to the American Hockey League earlier this season.
Doors open at 6 p.m., the puck drops at 7 p.m. both nights.
On Saturday night the Condors travel to Stockton for their final road game of the season, and their final meeting with the Thunder, who are immediately above Bakersfield in the Pacific Division standings. Game time is 7:30 p.m. All Condors games, home and away, can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1230, as well as online through 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).
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 - 5,542 (4th)
F Dave Bonk - 70 points (4th)
F Dave Bonk - 45 assists (t-3rd)
RW Chad Painchaud - 64 points (t-7th)
RW Chad Painchaud - 44 assists (5th)
F Matt Pope - 63 points (t-3rd rookies, t-8th overall)
F Matt Pope - 30 goals (4th rookies)
F Matt Pope - 13 power play goals (t-2nd rookies, t-4th overall)
LW Mark Derlago - 65 points (6th)
Condors Power Play - 19.5% (1st National Conference, 5th overall)
CONDORS LEADERS:
Points- C Dave Bonk (70)
Goals- F Matt Pope (30)
Assists- C Dave Bonk (45)
PIM- RW Liam Huculak (139)
Plus/Minus- D Andrew Thomas (+5)
GAA- G Yutaka Fukufuji (3.44)
Save Percentage- G Yutaka Fukufuji (.901)
ECHL Stories from March 16, 2009
- Thunder Back Wednesday at Ontario, Home Twice - Stockton Thunder
- Phoenix Continues Playoff Hunt with a Four-Game Week - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Brontos Jersey Auction raises $19,500 for the Petroleum Shrine Club - Bakersfield Condors
- Steelheads Off The Hook - Idaho Steelheads
- Tight Battle In North Continues - ECHL
- Stingrays Announce Stingrays Low Country Relief Day - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Playoff race heating up for Condors - Bakersfield Condors
- Bombers News - Dayton Bombers
- Weekly Arrowhead - Johnstown Chiefs
- Elmira's Sgroi Suspended Five Games, Fined - ECHL
- Elmira's Betts Suspended Five Games, Fined - ECHL
- Sea Wolves Weekly - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Constant, Huddy Return From Springfield - Stockton Thunder
- Back To California, Starting Wednesday In Bakersfield - Utah Grizzlies
- Nailers Prepare For Big Weekend - Wheeling Nailers
- Reading Royals Weekly - Reading Royals
- Rays Need One Win to Quailfy for Playoffs - South Carolina Stingrays
- Down The Stretch They Come - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Gladiators Weekly Update - Atlanta Gladiators
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