The Bakersfield Condors’ rough start kept rolling this past weekend, and the standings now show it plainly: after losses to the Abbotsford Canucks and San Jose Barracuda, they sit at the bottom of the Pacific Division with a 0.389% win percentage.
The injury picture has made life even tougher. Matt Tomkins is up with the Oilers, Connor Ungar is out injured, and that has left Bakersfield leaning on two goalies with limited AHL experience. Nathan Day and Samuel Jonsson have each delivered one good game, but Day struggled against Abbotsford before giving way to Jonsson, who has looked solid in his limited action.
The blue line and forward group have been hit hard, too. Beau Akey and Aku Raty have not played since Oct. 24 because of injuries, Connor Clattenburg has been out since Oct. 11, and Atro Leppanen still hasn’t appeared in a game this season.
Damien Carfagna was injured against Abbotsford and did not dress against the Barracuda. Edmonton’s own injury issues have also pushed players like Max Jones into the mix, and he would be a welcome addition to this Condors lineup.
Even with the injuries, the offense has not been nearly sharp enough. Bakersfield had just one shot with four minutes left in the first period against Abbotsford, and against San Jose it had only nine shots halfway through the game.
The Condors’ 23 goals are second-lowest in the AHL, though they have allowed only 28. Special teams have been another problem area: the power play is at 15.8 per cent, while the penalty kill sits at a league-worst 71.1 per cent.
There is still belief that the five-man power-play group can reach at least a 20 per cent conversion rate, and the expectation is that number should climb. On the penalty kill, the focus is on trusting young centreman William Nicholl, who has been excellent as a defensive forward in his early pro career.
Quinn Hutson remains one of the few Condors producing at a steady clip, even if the goals have dried up lately. He has five goals in nine games, but he has gone five straight without scoring and has only two assists in that stretch. Bakersfield does not have many shooters who can beat a goalie cleanly from distance, especially after Isaac Howard moved on from the AHL, and Hutson still stands out above much of the roster even when the puck is not going in.
His work away from the puck has stayed noticeable, too. On the power play, he does not linger after making a pass; he moves immediately into space, sprinting past his check to find the open area.
His offensive-zone routes remain sharp, and he continues to get pucks off his stick quickly without wasting time. Even during the dry spell, he has kept trying to put the puck in the right places and create chances for the Condors.
Tomas Cibulka also gave Bakersfield a bright spot, scoring his first goal as a Condor. Through nine games, he has only a goal and an assist, but his game has drawn plenty of praise.
The Czech defender skates well, attacks with confidence, and keeps trying to beat opponents with his feet. His first goal came after he shook a forward and opened a shooting lane, which fit the way he has played since arriving.
Cibulka’s ability to separate his upper and lower body stands out, and his range allows him to keep pucks close while making it difficult for opponents to take possession. He also helped create confusion for the San Jose forwards in one sequence, opening a passing lane that could have turned into more if the puck had been moved harder to Viljami Marjala.
The pairing of Carfagna and Cibulka had been an interesting one, though Carfagna’s injury has changed that for now. With Carfagna out, Cibulka will keep running the power play. There has not been an update on the Condors’ top-scoring defender, and the hope is that his absence was only precautionary.
It was an ugly weekend overall, but Jonsson’s short run in the AHL has been encouraging, and Friday’s start remains open. Bakersfield is set for a back-to-back against San Jose, making it three straight games against the Barracuda.
For now, the Condors are waiting on health as much as anything else. The roster is banged up, the offense is struggling, and the special teams need work.
Still, Hutson and Cibulka keep trying to create something even when the scoring touch is missing.
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