The Condors, picked in a preseason poll to finish near the bottom of the ECHL standings, are a handful of victories away from finishing first in the ECHL Pacific Division and second in the National Conference.
Now doubt about it, the franchise has come a long way from the years when the Condors struggled just to land a playoff berth. Bakersfield recorded its 40th win on Wednesday, making it three straight seasons of at least 40 wins.
Now the team is a step or two away from a couple of other milestones — most points in a season (currently 92) and a first-place finish in the division. With 90 points already and eight games remaining, the first is basically just a matter of time.
The second milestone will be a bit tougher as the Las Vegas Wranglers (tied with the Condors for the top spot in the division) will be riding into Rock Ridge, er Bakersfield, on Friday a whomping and a whomping.
The two teams meet again on Tuesday in Las Vegas and if either one can sweep the home-and-home series, they will certainly have the inside track on the title.
It should be a playoff-like atmosphere in both barns, which sure beats the days when the Condors were just playing out the season at this point.