The Bakersfield Condors are in a bit of unfamiliar territory right now. Friday night’s 3-1 loss to the San Diego Gulls marked their third straight regulation defeat - the first time that’s happened all season. And while there were flashes of fight, especially late, it wasn’t enough to dig them out of the early hole.
Let’s start with the obvious: San Diego came out with energy and capitalized early. The Gulls struck first on the power play, taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Bakersfield had their chances with the man advantage but couldn’t cash in, going 0-for-2 on the night. Special teams have been a swing factor all season, and in this one, it tilted in San Diego’s favor.
In the second period, the Gulls doubled their lead when Tim Washe found twine off a sharp feed from behind the net. That made it 2-0, and from there, the Condors were chasing the game. Goaltender Matt Tomkins held the fort with 10 saves, but the offense just couldn’t get traction until late.
With just over two minutes left in regulation, Bakersfield pulled the goalie for the extra attacker - a move that’s been paying off lately. And once again, it delivered.
James Hamblin buried his 16th of the season to cut the deficit to 2-1, giving the Condors life. It was their third extra-attacker goal in as many games, and Hamblin continues to be a bright spot, now with 15 points (8 goals, 7 assists) in his last 14 games.
That’s the kind of consistency every team craves down the stretch.
But the rally stopped there. The Gulls iced it with an empty-netter, and the Condors couldn’t find another gear.
This one stings, not just because of the result, but because of the trend - three straight regulation losses for a team that’s been one of the more steady performers in the division. At 25-15-7 (57 points), Bakersfield still holds a solid spot in the standings, but they’ll need to tighten things up quickly to avoid slipping further.
There’s no panic here - not yet. But for a team with playoff aspirations, these are the moments that test your depth, your resolve, and your ability to respond.