Condors Weekly: Condors stay hot; on to Idaho

CONDORSTOWN, Calif. – The Bakersfield Condors went 2-1-0 last week, including wins over Utah and Colorado, to creep back into playoff contention. With a record of 18-35-4-2 on the season, they sit 11 points behind the Idaho Steelheads with three games on tap in Boise this week.

THIS WEEK (ALL TIMES PACIFIC):
Wednesday, Mar. 7 @ Idaho (6:10 p.m.)
Friday, Mar. 9 @ Idaho (6:10 p.m.)
Saturday, Mar. 10 @ Idaho (6:10 p.m.)

WEEK IN REVIEW (Home team in CAPS):

Tuesday, Feb. 28
CONDORS 4 vs. Utah 2
Attn: 3,606
The Condors scored twice in the second and twice in the third to cruise to a 4-2 victory over the Grizzlies on Tuesday night. Four different goal scorers lit the lamp for the Condors, in the first meeting between the two teams in Bakersfield this season. Bakersfield scored twice on the power play to pace the victory.

Thursday, Mar. 1

COLORADO 5 vs. Condors 4 With less than five minutes remaining and a 4-3 lead, Bakersfield appeared poised to run their win streak to four straight, but two late goals by the Eagles foiled their efforts in a 5-4 loss. The line of F Robby Dee [pictured] (2g-1a), F Tyler Helfrich (0g-3a) and LW Kyle Calder (1g-2a) combined for nine points on the night.

Saturday, Mar. 3
Condors 6 vs. COLORADO 3
Bakersfield scored three times in the third period to turn a 3-3 game into a much-needed victory Saturday night. The Condors avenged Thursday’s loss with four unanswered tallies, and G Bryan Pitton made 35 saves (and an assist) en route to the win. The Eagles had just one power play the entire night. Ten different Condors recorded a point in the game, including F Ian McKenzie, who had 1g-2a.

PLAYER AND TEAM NOTES:

F Ian McKenzie [pictured] has a seven-game scoring streak (2g-8a).
F Parker Stanfield saw his team-high 11-game scoring streak come to an end Thursday night, during which he recorded 17 points (6g-11a). He returned to the scoresheet Saturday night with a goal.
Bakersfield has scored at least three goals in each of their last 10 games, averaging 4.1 goals per game during that stretch.
F Tyler Helfrich has surged to 4th place in the ECHL in rookie scoring with 43 points on the season. He had his six-game point streak snapped Saturday, but had 11 points (4g-7a) during the streak.
The line of LW Kyle Calder-F Robby Dee-F Tyler Helfrich has combined for 11 goals and 16 assists in the last seven games.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE: (subject to change.)

All practices are at Rabobank Arena unless otherwise indicated
Monday, Mar. 5 – Practice in Idaho
Tuesday, Mar. 6 – Practice in Idaho
Wednesday, Mar. 7 – 6:10 p.m. at Idaho Steelheads
Thursday, Mar. 8 – 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Condors Insider (Fox Sports Radio 970AM)
Friday, Mar. 9 – 6:10 p.m. at Idaho Steelheads
Saturday, Mar. 10 – 6:10 p.m. at Idaho Steelheads
Sunday, Mar. 11 – Travel home to Bakersfield
Monday, Mar. 12 – practice TBA

Three in Idaho this week

Bakersfield has an opportunity to claw their way into playoff contention with three games this week against the team immediately ahead of them in the standings. Games Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in Boise could have the Condors within single-digit point totals of the Steelheads for the 7th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Idaho is winless in 10 straight games and their lead over Bakersfield is currently 11 points.

CONDORS LEAGUE LEADERS:

Team Stats
21.17 PIM/Game – 3rd
69 major penalties – 2nd
11 shorthanded goals – t-2nd

Individual league leaders
F Tyler Helfrich [pictured] – 43 points (t-4th, rookies)
F Tyler Helfrich – 28 assists (4th, rookies)
RW Scott Freeman – 4 shorthanded goals (t-2nd; 1st, rookies)
RW Scott Freeman – 4 game winning goals (t-1st, rookies)
F Robby Dee – 4 shorthanded goals (t-2nd; 1st, rookies)
D Tyson Gimblett – 144 PIM (1st, rookies)
D Tyson Gimblett – 12 major penalties (t-1st, rookies; t-1st, defensemen)
F Hans Benson – 15 major penalties (t-3rd)

CONDORS LEADERS:
Points: F Tyler Helfrich, 43
Goals: F Robby Dee, 19
Assists: F Tyler Helfrich, 28
PIM: D Tyson Gimblett, 144
+/-: D Josh Van Dyk/D Tyson Gimblett, +8
GAA: G Matt Keetley, 2.97
Save %: G Matt Keetley, .910
Wins: G Matt Keetley, 12

GET TICKETS:

Individual tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster and the Rabobank Arena box office by calling 1-800-745-3000. The box office is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. And 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, with extended hours on game days. For more information on ticket packages, exciting promotions, and to sign up for the Kids Club for just $10, visit the online home of the Condors, www.bakersfieldcondors.com.

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