Condors vs. Stockton Thunder – tonight!

Game Preview:
Bakersfield (28-24-2-1, 59pts – 3rd Pacific Div./6th Western Conf.)
Stockton (27-18-4-5, 63pts – 2nd Pacific Div./3rd Western Conf.)
Time: Doors open at 11 a.m., puck drops at 12 p.m.
Place: Mercy & Memorial Hospitals Home Ice at Rabobank Arena
Radio: Fox Sports 970AM
TV: Bright House Networks, ch. 21
Webcast: foxsports970am.com, iheartradio, and America One 

Click here to see Marty Raymond’s pregame comments.

Tonight’s match up:
The Condors and Thunder meet for the second time in less than 24 hours, after Bakersfield wrapped up a 4-1 victory over the Thunder last night. Coupled with a 5-3 win in Stockton on Tuesday (the only time this series the road team has collected a victory), the Condors are poised to take six straight points against the Thunder and move to within 2 points of second place in the Pacific Division. In the Western Conference, which is how the playoffs are seeded, Bakersfield is in sixth place, but just nine points out of first. The Condors are 33-18-3 in the all-time series between the clubs which includes a 6-4-0 record over Stockton this season. Tonight’s matchup is the final time during the 2010-11 regular season that the two teams will meet.

Condors misc:
C Joel Broda has consecutive two-goal games against Stockton…  RW Erick Lizon engaged in his first fight since Jan. 28 in Alaska when he dropped the gloves against RW Jim McKenzie in the first period… F Bobby Robins scored a goal and got into a fight last night, marking the 6th time it has happened this season. It was also the 200th game in his North American professional career… D Evan Stoflet played in his 100th game as a Condor last night and picked up an assist. He leads the Condors with seven points (1g-6a) in 10 games against Stockton… Bakersfield is 11-2-0 at home against the Pacific Division… G Brian Stewart won his 6th consecutive start last night. It is the second time this season that a Condors netminder has won 6 straight starts, with G Josh Tordjman performing the feat from Dec. 10 to Dec. 27. Both goaltenders’ streaks included at least two wins over the Thunder. The last time a Condors goalie had a winning streak of six or more games was Yutaka Fukufuji during the 2008-09 season (seven straight).

Transactions:
LW Brad Snetsinger signed a Professional Try Out (PTO) contract with the Binghamton Senators in the American Hockey League on Thursday… F Jean-Marc Beaudoin was activated from the 3-day IR and D Joey Ryan was placed on the 3-day IR on Monday. Ryan is eligible to be activated but remains on IR… F Slava Trukhno was returned to the Condors last Friday after being released from his PTO with Peoria (AHL)… C Rylan Kaip and LW J.D. Corbin both remain on 21-day IR, though both are eligible to be activated.

TICKETS:
The Condors head out on the road for a three-game series with Victoria next Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. They return home for Canned Food Drive Night on Tuesday, Mar. 8 against Idaho, sponsored by My 45, 96.5 Max FM and Payment Systems Worldwide. Bring two non-perishable items to donate to the Golden Empire Gleaners and get in for just $1. Also, enjoy half price beer through the end of the first intermission in special Condors cups, courtesy of Budweiser. Doors open at 6 p.m., the puck drops at 7 p.m.

Group tickets are a great way to add to your Condors experience! All you need is 20 family, friends and coworkers to get discounted tickets starting at just $7. Groups get a P.A. Announcement as well as prizes for each group. All members of Lower Level groups also get a Condors hat.

Individual tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster and the Rabobank Arena Box Office. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday, and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, with extended hours on game and event days. You can also call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or visit them online at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket packages start at just $28! Call the Condors office at 324-PUCK (7825) or go online to www.bakersfieldcondors.com for more information.