GAME PREVIEW: Condors v Reign
TONIGHT
The Bakersfield Condors conclude a four-game homestand against the Ontario Reign. Overall, the Condors are 2-1-0 againt Ontario, but have not seen the Reign since a 3-2 home loss on December 27.
The Condors winless skid hit five games in a 8-0 home loss on Friday to Iowa. It was the worst home and overall loss for the Condors in their AHL tenure.
Ontario beat Iowa, 5-1, on Saturday at home. LW Michael Mersch had two goals and C TJ Hensick had three assists. Rookie G Cal Petersen earned his team-leading 12th victory of the season, stopping 22 of 23 shots.
Seven of the Condors final 25 games (28%) of the regular season are against Ontario.
After tonight the Condors hit the road for four games starting tomorrow in Ontario. The trip continues with a game in San Diego next Wednesday and two in Tucson the following weekend. Six of the team’s next eight games are away from Bakersfield.
With 25 games left in the regular season, the Condors find themselves seven points out of a playoff spot. Over the past two seasons, an average of 75 points has been the final qualifying position for postseason play in the Pacific Division. With 42 points currently, the Condors would need 34 points out of their final 25 games to match the pace of the past two seasons.
LW Braden Christoffer’s 22 penalty minutes last Friday matched a Condors AHL high for one game set last season by F Joel Rechlicz… RW Ty Loney, acquired last week from Syracuse (AHL) is expected to make his Condors debut tonight… Tonight’s game is number 1401 in franchise history.
After starting 0-6 on the season, including two losses at home to Bakersfield, the Reign are 23-11-2-1 (.662) in their last 37 games… Since being loaned to Ontario, veteran LW Matt Moulson has 28 points (7g-21) in 24 games. He is third in the AHL in scoring over that time… The leading scorer during that time is Reign C Mike Amadio who had 30 points (9g-21a) over 22 games and is currently on recall with the Los Angeles Kings.
