Game Day - Utah Grizzlies vs. Bakersfield Condors

We're seriously so distracted by the promotion going on in Bakersfield tonight that we're not sure what to write about the actual game. It's King of Pop Tribute night for the Condors, which means the team will be wearing Michael Jackson themed jerseys, and one white glove during the game. The jerseys look something like this:

Apparently they're going to be auctioned off for some charity after the game, but we're glad we're not the ones having to play against an entire team of Michael Jacksons. Of course, this is the same team that once participated in a "Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich Prison Uniform Night" with Las Vegas. We totally don't get that one either.

Anyway, the Condors played their last game on Wednesday, and like the Grizzlies, they left their opponent (Ontario Reign) feeling a little like those people who try to welcome the aliens in Independence Day. In an 8-3 victory, they scored on 5 power plays, and nine of the players on the team got at least two points. Of course, four of the eight goals for the Condors came in the 3rd period.

The Condors, like the Wranglers, are missing their #1 goaltender right now. Justin Pogge has been called up to the Anaheim Ducks to back up Jonas Hiller while J.S. Giguere is out with an injury. Also like the Wranglers, they don't appear to have a backup goalie available, so it will be up to Timo Pielmeier to handle the Grizzlies on his own. The Condors currently have NHL veteran Kyle Calder on their roster. He was signed by the Ducks on Wednesday to a 1-year contract and assigned to Bakersfield for conditioning. Calder has played in 576 NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings. That's a lot of experience the Grizzlies don't have.

From our perspective, this could be a high-scoring, exciting game. The Grizzlies will have to keep some momentum from their win in Vegas, and play three full periods even though they are on the second half of a back-to-back schedule with travel in between. They will also need some good goaltending from... whoever is in net. We don't know whether it will be Van Buskirk again, or if Colley will give O'Keefe the start. It's a game-time surprise. And finally, they will need to play their guts out and trust Colley's system. If everyone buys in and plays together, this team can do great things.

The game is tonight at 8:00 pm, and can be heard on 1230 AM KJQS or on the Grizzlies' website, or watched pay-per-view (or with a season pass) on B-2 Networks. Can you really pass up a chance to see those jerseys in action?

Happy Halloween!