BAKERSFIELD, CA- If there was a distinct advantage the Bakersfield Condors had heading into the series, it was on the man advantage.
Owners of the seventh best power play in the league during the 2018-19 regular season, the Condors had plenty of opportunities in Game 2 to either tie or bring themselves right back into the hockey game.
While Patrick Russell's third-period tally came just seconds after the Condors fifth power play of the night, the team went 0-for-7 in five-on-four play while also giving up a shorthanded goal to Andrew Agozzino in the middle frame.
"We gave them a little too much on special teams," said Josh Currie, who finished Game 2 with one assist and two penalty minutes. "They had one on the powerplay and they scored shorthanded. You can't give them that. They're a good team and they're going to make you pay. They had 16 shorthanded goals in the regular season, so they're obviously trying to score when they're down a man. Special teams are where they're generating most of their offense. They won that battle tonight and it turned out to be the deciding factor.
"In the playoffs, you've got to make teams pay. If they're going to take penalties and take liberties on guys, we've got to make them pay. We didn't do that (in Game 2)."
Game 1 of the series saw both teams exchange one power play a piece. In Game 2, Colorado was also given ample opportunity on the man advantage, converting once on seven tries of their own - the team had the 31st ranked power play in the league during the regular season.
While Condors Head Coach Jay Woodcroft attributes both penalty kills being "good the entire series" so far, he acknowledged improvement on the special teams will be crucial in games three, four and five, if necessary.
"It's got to be better. There's a few areas in our game that needs to be better. They scored on a faceoff, they scored shorthanded, they scored on a powerplay regroup and an empty net goal. Those are all areas that can improve for us.
"We can be better."
CONDORS: Special teams a 'deciding factor' in Game 2
"In the playoffs, you've got to make teams pay. If they're going to take penalties and take liberties on guys, we've got to make them pay. We didn't do that," said forward Josh Currie.
