Series tied up 1-1 heading back to Condorstown
April 13, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - A two-goal rally in Game 2 at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas provided the Bakersfield Condors a 1-game-to-1 split in the first two contests of the Pacific Division Semifinals over the weekend. That sets the table for a return to Rabobank Arena this week for Games 3, 4 and 5 on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
All three games will be necessary for the best-of-seven series, which will head back to Vegas if needed for Games 6 and 7.
THIS WEEK (ALL TIMES PACIFIC):
Pacific Division Semi-Finals
Wednesday, April 15 - Game 3 vs. LV (7 p.m.)
Friday, April 17 - Game 4 vs. LV (7 p.m.)
Saturday, April 18 - Game 5 vs. LV (7 p.m.)
WEEK IN REVIEW (Home team in CAPS):
Friday, April 10
LAS VEGAS 3 vs. Condors 1
F Brett Pilkington opened up the post-season scoring just 34 seconds into Game 1, chipping in his second career playoff goal to give the Condors a 1-0 lead. But Vegas responded after that, taking the lead later in the first and added an insurance goal in the second en route to the win. F Kelly Czuy scored twice and added an assist for the Wranglers.
Saturday, April 11
Condors 3 vs. LAS VEGAS 2
After falling behind 2-0 in the first period, Bakersfield quickly erased the deficit early in the second frame. RW Chad Painchaud and LW Mark Derlago (left) scored just 2:44 apart to tie it up. With the clock winding down inside the final two minutes of regulation, Derlago added his second of the night to provide the game-winner. G Yutaka Fukufuji finished with 37 saves in the win, tying the series up at one game apiece.
PAIR OF CONDORS ARE PLUS PERFORMERS
The ECHL announced today that Condors C Bruce Graham was the PaySource USA Plus Performer of the Month for March. Graham led the league with a +13, which included an 'even' or better rating in 10 of the 12 games he played. Graham was also a +2 or better six times during the month. Teammate and linemate F Andrew Ianiero finished runner-up for the month with a +12.
PLAYER AND TEAM NOTES:
RW Chad Painchaud has a point on all four Condors playoff goals this season (1g-3a).
G Yutaka Fukufuji (right) became the Condors career playoff saves leader, with 293, surpassing Ryan Munce's mark of 288. He needed three less games than Munce to set the record. Fukufuji's .916 playoff save percentage is the best in Condors history, and he's at .929 in the playoffs this season.
F Andrew Ianiero had an assist on Friday and is now one point behind Kevin St. Jacques for the team post-season record (25 points).
Ianiero should tie St. Jacques on Wednesday for first place all-time with his 29th career Condors playoff game.
The Condors were 1-10 all-time in Game 2's prior to Saturday's victory.
Five of the Condors last six road playoff games have been decided by just one goal. Their record is 2-3 in those five games.
With three home games on the docket for this week, the Condors have drawn over 114,000 fans in their playoff history. They have not finished lower than third in the league in average playoff attendance since the 1998-99 season.
Wednesday night the Condors will surpass the 200,000 mark in season attendance for the fourth consecutive campaign. Including playoff attendance totals, Bakersfield has drawn 200,000 or more fans nine times in 11 years.
CONDORS CAREER PLAYOFF POINT LEADERS:
# Pts Player Playoff games
1 25 Kevin St. Jacques 29
2 24 Andrew Ianiero 28
3 20 Sean Venedam 24
4 17 Dave Bonk 16
5 15 Brett Lutes 21
CONDORS LEADERS:
Points- RW Chad Painchaud (4)
Goals- LW Mark Derlago (2)
Assists- RW Chad Painchaud (3)
PIM- RW Liam Huculak (10)
Plus/Minus- D Donny Grover, RW Chad Painchaud, D Ryan Mahrle (+3)
GAA - G Yutaka Fukufuji (2.53)
Save Percentage - G Yutaka Fukufuji (.929)
BRING ON THE PLAYOFFS!
Bakersfield will host Games 3, 4 and 5 of the best-of-seven series this week on April 15, 17 and 18. The Pacific Division Semi-Finals are sponsored by KGET-TV 17, Goodwill Industries and Cal Water.
Game 3 on Wednesday will feature White Hot White Out Playoff Rally Towel Giveaway for everyone in attendance. Fans are encouraged to wear white, and along with the white rally towels, bring a bit of a chill to the visiting Wranglers.
Also that night, fans are encouraged to bring in their old phone books for recycling, as AT&T Yellow Pages will be at the game collecting them in exchange for a $3 coupon for Wednesday's game. Make sure you don't bring this year's yellow pages accidentally - you will know because Dave Bonk is on the cover this year, along with a great picture of the annual Teddy Bear Toss.
On Friday, April 17, the first 2,000 kids 12 and under will receive a Condors mini-light up fan for Game 4 of the semi-finals. Game 5 will be on Saturday, April 18, and everyone will get a White Out Rally Towel while supplies last! Plus on Saturday, one lucky fan will walk away with the Condors customized 3-Way Chevrolet Truck! Raffle tickets will be on sale at each home game for just $5, and the drawing will be Saturday night.
Games 6 and 7, if necessary, will be back in Vegas on April 21 and 22, with 7:30 p.m. start times.
GET TICKETS
Individual playoff game tickets are on sale now 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).
ECHL Stories from April 13, 2009
- Playoff Series Tied 1-1, Promotions Announced - Stockton Thunder
- Condors customized truck to be given away this Saturday night - Bakersfield Condors
- Series tied up 1-1 heading back to Condorstown - Bakersfield Condors
- Jared Youngman Returns To Grizzlies As VP - Utah Grizzlies
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Bakersfield's Graham Named PaySourceUSA ECHL Plus Performer of the Month for March - ECHL
- Tyler Biggs To Play For U.S. National Under-17 Development Team - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Devils head to Elmira after splitting first two games of Division Semifinals at home - Trenton Devils
- Everblades Weekly Playoff Notes - Florida Everblades
- Spang, Watt and Hamilton Arrive From AHL - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Playoffs Return To Utah Wednesday - Utah Grizzlies
- Trio of players reassigned to Blades - Florida Everblades
- Kelly Cup Quest Daily - South Carolina Stingrays
- Wranglers Kelly Cup Daily - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Cyclones Look To Even Series - Cincinnati Cyclones
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