Grizzlies open series with Condors tonight

WEST VALLEY CITY — It seems unlikely that the Utah Grizzlies will get any respite from rubber as they open a three-game series tonight at 7 in the E Center against the Bakersfield Condors.

The No. 3 overall team in the ECHL at 33-13-10, the Condors are also the No. 3-scoring team in the 25-team league at 3.84 goals a game, and they are second only to the Texas Wildcatters, who just left the E Center Saturday night after a three-game set, in shots per game at 35.89.

Utah took the first two from Texas but lost 6-0 Saturday night, outshot 39-12.

Bakersfield spent last week winning two and losing two, all four games going into overtime.

What should heat up tonight's "Bikini Night" contest even more, Bakersfield has the opportunity in this three-game series at Utah — that continues Friday and Saturday nights — to be the third team in the league to clinch a playoff spot. Their magic number for doing so over Long Beach, the last-place team in the ECHL Pacific, is four points. And Long Beach is at No. 1 Alaska for three games this weekend.

The Grizzlies, 21-31-5, are six points out of fourth place and a playoff spot in the ECHL West. They are the league's lowest-scoring team at 2.67 goals a game and second-worst in goals against, 3.89. They've been missing top scorer Ryan Kinasewich (59 points) for the last eight games.

Utah has 15 games left in the 2006-07 season, nine of them in the E Center.