GAME PREVIEW presented by Rodriguez & Associates

Bakersfield can secure a perfect homestand with a win over the Colorado Eagles tonight. The Condors are unbeaten in eight straight (6-0-2) at home and have won the first three games of this four-game homestand.

LOOKING BACK

The Condors swept Texas with a 6-3 victory on Saturday. Isaac Howard hit the 20-goal mark with two goals on the night while Damien Carfagna and Rhett Pitlick each had three assists.

HOME COOKIN’

With five home games left, the Condors are on pace for their best home record in the AHL era. Currently, the team is 22-6-3 (.758), second only to Ontario in the AHL. Bakersfield had 23 wins in 2022-23, its most in the AHL era.

ROOKIE RANKS

Carfagna’s second three-point game of the season vaulted the rookie d-man into a tie for fifth in scoring among first year d-men. The Ohio State product has 22 points (7g-15a) in 57 games and is +15.

HUTTY HEATING UP  

Quinn Hutson is tied for the AHL rookie lead in goals (27) and points (55). Over his last nine games, the Illinois native has nine points (3g-6a).

PITTER PATTER 

Pitlick’s three point night was his fourth in 62 games as a pro dating back to last season. He has 23 points (8g-15a) in 56 games this season.

FIRING AWAY

The Condors reached 40 shots for the second straight game on Saturday and the third time on the season.

ROUGH STUFF  

Bakersfield fought twice on Saturday with Connor Clattenburg and Alec Regula each picking up fighting majors. Clattenburg’s was his ninth of the year, with his 10th carrying a one-game suspension. However, a caveat to that rule is one of his fighting majors carried an opposition instigator, meaning only eight fighting majors count towards the total for suspension purposes.

PK PERFECTION 

The Condors have the second best home penalty kill at 87.5%. On the homestand, the team has killed all 13 shorthanded opportunities.

20 SPOT 

Howard became the fourth AHL rookie this season to eclipse the 20-goal plateau, doing so in just 39 games. He is fifth in rookie scoring with 52 points on the season.

HAMMER TIME 

James Hamblin is tied for 13th in the AHL with 25 goals on the season. Of qualified skaters, his 26.0% shooting percentage is highest in the league.

ROBY RETURNS

Roby Jarventie returned from Edmonton this week after playing three games with the Oilers. He has 36 points (17g-19a) in 52 games with the Condors this season.

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 9 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. Regardless of the Condors result, the team’s magic number will drop tonight depending on the result of the San Diego and Tucson matchup. 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 are 3-3-1 overall in the season series with Colorado, having won the last two meetings. Four of the previous seven games have been decided by one goal and three have required overtime.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH 

Colorado controls its own destiny for a division title, currently sitting second, one point back of Ontario, but with a game in hand on the Reign. The Eagles are on a six-game road trip which started with a sweep of Calgary over the weekend. After tonight, the team is in San Jose for two and Ontario next Tuesday to wrap it all up. Leading scorer Alex Barre-Boulet is second in the AHL with 66 points (24g-42a) in 63 games.

UP NEXT 

The Condors head south for two games this weekend in San Diego on Friday at 7 p.m. and 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)