Olivier Rodrigue and Condors drop second game in back-to-back versus Canucks

The Condors entered Wednesday night on a role with four consecutive wins, by a combined score of 17-3. This included a 4-1 victory a day earlier, versus the Abbotsford Canucks.

However, they would be no repeat in the second game of the back-to-back in Abbotsford. The Condors fell 4-1 to the Canucks, with Olivier Rodrigue unable to measure up to Jack Campbell's performance the night before.

The game couldn't have gotten off to a better start for the Condors, as Matvey Petrov opened the scoring after just 70 seconds with his seventh goal of the AHL season. Cam Dineen's initial shot from range was saved, and Petrov eventually slammed the puck home via Dylan Holloway, who notched his third point in three games since being assigned from the Oilers.

After this the Canucks took control, as they had a 13-9 edge in shots during the opening period. Rodrigue and the Condors manged to hold out until just under three minutes were left in the first.

Tristen Nielsen shot from the left wing, which looked like it was saved by Rodrigue. However, the Condors goalie let it trickle under his body into the net and it was 1-1 after 20 minutes.

All Canucks

The second period saw the Canucks really turn it on, as they dominated with a 15-7 edge in shots on goal. In this respect, the Condors did well to only allow the one goal.

Filip Johansson fired from distance and although Rodrigue stopped it, Max Sasson scored in the subsequent scramble to make it 2-1 at the 11:04 mark. If nothing else, at least the Condors still had a chance going into the third period.

However, the game was essentially ended when Philip Kemp turned over the puck in his own half. Linus Karlsson had his shot saved by Rodrigue, but Sheldon Dries was on hand to score his 22nd goal of the season and make it 3-1 with just over seven minutes remaining.

The Condors did continue to fight back and actually narrowly outshot the Canucks 11-10 during the third period. However, Dries completed the scoring with just under two minutes remaining, courtesy of an empty netter when the visitors had an extra skater on the ice.

On the night, Rodrigue stopped 34 of 37 shots and didn't perform too badly. At the same time, he has now lost three of his past four starts between the pipes.

The Condors are now 17-11-0 on their travels this season, with six of their remaining eight games in March also on the road. The penalty kill has performed well of late and should help, having stopped 20 consecutive opportunities for the opponents, including one on Wednesday night versus the Canucks.

With the loss the Condors drop to 31-21-4 on the season and remain fifth in the Pacific Division. They now return home for a game on Saturday night, versus the Ontario Reign.

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