Condors to host best in the West
| Thursday, Jan 28 2010 10:49 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Jan 28 2010 10:50 PM
When 7 p.m. today
Where Rabobank Arena
Radio KGEO (1230 AM)
Condors record 26-11-3
Steelheads record 27-11-2
Series First meeting
Notes Two former Condors are playing for the Steelheads, forward Mark Derlago and goaltender Rejean Beauchemin. Beauchemin is fourth in the league in wins with 14. Derlago is second on the team in scoring with 36 points ... Bakersfield goaltender Timo Pielmeier leads the league in wins with 19 ... The Steelheads are the only team in the league not to have allowed a short-handed goal this season. Every other team has allowed at least four ... Adam Naglich has points in four straight games (3 goals, 3 assists) for the Condors ... The first 3,000 fans at tonight's game get set No. 3 of the Condors Trading Card Collector's Series.
It's taken 15 weeks and 40 games, but the top two teams in the ECHL National Conference are headed for a showdown tonight and Saturday at Rabobank Arena.
The Idaho Steelheads opened the season with six straight wins, have been atop the West Division all season and head into Bakersfield with the best road record (13-4-1) in the National Conference and two straight road wins.
The Condors opened the season with a win, have been atop the Pacific Division all season, have the best home record in the league (16-4-0) and have won two straight.
"It's kind of strange how things work out," said Condors coach Marty Raymond of the late first meeting between the two division leaders. "Our guys are up for it and it's going to be an exciting weekend."
Both teams are loaded with players who have played, or are now playing in higher leagues.
Seven Steelheads have played in the American Hockey League this season but most all are now back with the team.
"They're a good team, there's a reason they're on top of that division," said Raymond. "From the goaltender out they're solid. There's not too many weaknesses on that team."
The Condors have had 11 players participate in a higher league this year (three in the National Hockey League) but only four of those 11 are currently with the team.
Fully half of Bakersfield defensive corps -- Sasah Pokulok, Stu Bickel and John de Gray -- are in the American Hockey League yet the Condors have still been finding ways to win.
"This will be another good challenge for us," Raymond said. "They play an aggressive style of hockey and we have to be ready to pay the price. We need to play very physical, but be smart and disciplined."
The Steelheads, Condors and Victoria Salmon Kings put some distance between the rest of the National Conference teams and it looks like one of those three will wind up atop the division and receive a first-round bye in the playoffs.
"You're going to have good nights and bad nights no matter how good a team you are," Raymond said, noting Victoria's 7-2 loss to Stockton on Wednesday. "Whoever stays more consistent will prevail."
