Mike Griffith: Recent surge turning playoffs into possibility for Condors
| Friday, Mar 06 2009 12:59 AM
Last Updated Wednesday, Mar 25 2009 06:17 PM
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The Condors' Mark Derlago, left, has been named ECHL player of the month.
It's been a phenomenal monthlong run for the Condors who have clawed their way back into the playoff hunt but there remains little margin for error heading into the final 12 games.
It's too confusing to try to figure out the playoff scenario since not every team has played the same number of games, but the Condors are just four points behind Stockton, who they face tonight in Stockton. Both teams have played 60 games and that makes this another "huge" game for the Condors.
Saturday night the Condors are at Pacific Division leading Ontario. Bakersfield then plays nine of its final 10 games at home.
The red-hot Condors, once so far out of the playoff mix it seemed a near-impossible task, are now jockeying for position with Utah, Phoenix and even Las Vegas, which is 0-6-4 in its last 10.
That's what a 11-2-1 streak will do for a team.
"The only thing we keep saying to our guys is keep getting points, keep getting points," Condors coach Marty Raymond said. "At the end it's going to add up."
The Condors have been battling adversity for some time and more bad news came their way early in Wednesday night's eventual 8-4 win over Utah when goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji left with a groin injury.
Raymond said the injury did not seem as serious on Thursday, but was significant enough to place Fukufuji on the seven-day IR.
"Things happen in the course of the season, we're not phased by that," Raymond said of the temporary loss of Fukufuji. "How many more things can happen than happened over the last few weeks?"
With Fukufuji, who had won his last six starts before leaving with the injury, the goaltending load falls on the shoulders of Dave McKee, who has won three of his last four games.
"Dave McKee has to do the job this weekend and stop the puck for us and he certainly can do that," Raymond said.
SLAP SHOTS
* The awards keep rolling in for the Condors as Mark Derlago was named the ECHL player of the month for February. Derlago's award follows three consecutive player of the week honors from the league for Derlago's teammates, Mike Wirll (twice) and Chad Painchaud. Derlago led the league in scoring during the month, netting 26 points in 14 games.
* Tickets remain available for Tuesday night's Ninth Annual Tip-A-Condor charity dinner and auction at the Buck Owens Crystal Palace. The event has raised more than $93,000 for charity over the past eight years. Proceeds from this year's event will benefit the Kern County Shrine Club. Tickets, available at the Condors office or the Crystal Palace, are $25 for adults and $15 for children, 12-and-under.
* The Fifth Annual Condors Fighting Hockey Hockey-Thon raised $36,000 for Links for Life, bringing the five-year total to $199,000.
