GAME PREVIEW presented by Rodriguez & Associates

Bakersfield opens a Southern California road trip in San Diego. It is the sixth matchup of the season between the two teams as the Condors will play three of their final eight games of the regular season against the Gulls. San Diego has taken four of the first five matchups in the series.

LOOKING BACK

The Condors started slow and never recovered in a 5-2 loss to Colorado on Wednesday. It was the team’s first regulation home loss since February 13, a span of nine games.

STREAKING 

Viljami Marjala had an assist on Wednesday, extending his point streak to five games (1g-4a).

HAMMERING AWAY

James Hamblin picked up his 26th goal of the season on Wednesday. He is tied for 12th in goals around the league. He has six goals in his last eight games and has scored in three straight.

THE ICEMAN COMETH 

Isaac Howard scored on the power play Wednesday, his 21st goal of the season. He is tied for third among rookies in goals and fifth in rookie scoring with 43 points.

PK PERFECTION

The Condors penalty kill was a perfect 16/16 on the four-game homestand. Overall, the team is 15th at 82.2%.

COMINGS AND GOINGS

Bakersfield made a swap of forwards after Wednesday’s game with Josh Bloom being loaned to Fort Wayne and Matt Brown joining the team for the road trip. Brown has 35 points (12g-13a) in 42 games with the Komets.

PICKIN’ IT UP 

Calvin Pickard is expected to make his first start of the season against the Gulls, becoming the fourth Condors netminder to appear in the series. The veteran netminder has won his last two starts, a 22-save shutout of Calgary, and a 22/25 performance in a 4-3 win over Texas last Friday.

703

Seth Griffith had two assists on Wednesday, points 702 and 703 of his AHL career. He is one point behind Alexandre Giroux for 26th all-time in scoring in the 90-year history of the AHL.

GET TO THE THIRD 

The Condors are 31-3-8 when holding at least a share of the lead after two periods.

PLAYOFF PICTURE

Bakersfield finds itself right in the thick of the Pacific Division playoff race with 8 games left in the regular season. The team’s magic number is eight for clinching a playoff berth. Currently, the Condors sit fifth, two points back of third place San Jose. Seven teams will qualify for the Calder Cup Playoffs from the Pacific Division with the one seed earning a first-round bye. Click here for the playoff primer.

MATCHING UP

The Condors have surrendered 23 goals in five games against the Gulls. Bakersfield has had success in America’s Finest City with a 10-4-2 record in the last 16 games held at Pechanga Arena.

SAN DIEGO SHUTOUT

Calle Clang picked up his third shutout of the season on Wednesday in a 3-0 blanking of Tucson. Overall, he is 16-8-6 with a 2.75 GAA and .896 save percentage. He surrendered five goals in his only appearance against the Condors this season, a 5-4 loss at home on February 14.

UP NEXT 

The Condors are in Ontario on Saturday at 6 p.m. Next week the team is home for three games on a Weiner Wednesday (click here for tickets), $3 Beer Friday (click here for tickets), and Youth Jersey Giveaway Saturday (click here for tickets)