Bakersfield Roughnecks’ Race to the 2024-2025 USPHL Pacific Division Playoffs

As of January 22, 2025, the Bakersfield Roughneck’s commendable performance during the regular season has put them in sixth place of the USPHL Pacific Division standings with 29 points and a season record of 13-18-1-2. Out of their 13 wins, one of them includes an overtime win. 

The Bakersfield Roughnecks find themselves struggling on the power play as they currently have a 17.69% success rate but do have a decent penalty killing rate which is currently 77.44%. Their top scorers are #17 Adrian Gomez and #9 Christopher Larochelle who both currently have 39 points recorded in the regular season. Only two players have recorded one hat-trick during the regular season which include Arsiyan Van de Brande and Nazar Atta El-Manan. 

In regards to goaltending, all four of their goaltenders have been active during the season. The stats include: Jakob Barcelona securing 7 wins out of 15 games and a 0.896 SV%; Liam Luther securing 2 wins out of 15 games and a 0.895 SV%; Stanislav Teplitsky securing 2 wins in 15 games and 0.869 SV%; and Max Sutton securing 3 wins out of 8 games and a 0.864 SV%. 

Looking at what is left of the regular season, the Bakersfield Roughnecks have 12 games left in the regular season which consists of: 

• A three-game series against the Lake Tahoe Lakers (1st place, 53 PTS, 26-10-1-0) on January 24-26, 2025.

  • Previous meetings this season: LTL have won two out of the three games against BKR (3-1)

  • Prediction: LTL will sweep BKR in this three-game series as in the past, they have had more control over previous games in regards to puck possession (150 SOG vs. 119 SOG) and more successful power plays (27.3% PP vs. 17.6% PP) when playing against BKR.

• A two-game series against the San Diego Sabers (5th place, 36 PTS, 18-14-0-0) on January 31- February 1, 2025 

  • Previous meetings this season: SDS have won two out of three games against BKR (3-0)

  • Prediction: SDS may sweep this two-game series against BKR as they have in the past despite BKR outshooting SDS (148 SOG vs 118 SOG). SDS have a slightly higher power play success rate (20% PP vs 16.7% PP) and have outscored BKR 16 G vs. 12 G. It may come down to whoever is able to take advantage of their power play opportunities and goaltending.

• A two-game series against the San Diego Sabers (5th place, 36 PTS, 18-14-0-0) on February 7, 2025 and the Long Beach Bombers (8th place, 18 PTS, 8-23-2-0) on February 8, 2025

  • Previous meetings this season: 

    • SDS has won two out of three games against BKR (3-0)

    • BKR has won four out of five games against LBB (4-1) 

  • Prediction: 

    • SDS may sweep this two-game series against BKR as they have in the past despite BKR outshooting SDS (148 SOG vs 118 SOG). SDS have a slightly higher power play success rate (20% PP vs 16.7% PP) and have outscored BKR 16 G vs. 12 G. It may come down to whoever is able to take advantage of their power play opportunities and goaltending.

    • BKR will likely sweep LBB depending on puck possession and goaltending as they have outshot (239 SOG vs 149 SOG), outscored (28 G vs. 14 G) and have found more success on the power play )27.8% PP vs. 14.3% PP) in their previous games this season. 

• A three-game series against Fresno Monsters (3rd place, 46 PTS, 23-8-0-0) on February 20-22, 2025

  • Previous meetings this season: FRM have won all 3 games against BKR (3-0)

  • Prediction: FRM will sweep BKR in this three-game series by continuing to capitalize on their scoring chances (145 SOG vs 107 SOG) and goal scored (18 G vs. 5 G) during the three previous games against BKR. 

• A two-game series against the Ontario Jr. Reign (2nd place, 47 PTS, 23-9-1-0) on February 28- March 1, 2025. 

  • OJR have won three out of the four games against BKR so far this season (3-1)

  • Prediction: 

    • OJR may sweep their two-game series against BKR if they continue to maintain control over the games (186 SOG vs. 123 SOG) and consistent goal scoring (22 G vs 8 G)

As acknowledged in Summary of the Race to the Playoffs, the Bakersfield Roughnecks (29 PTS) and Ventura Vikings (23 PTS) will have to fight an uphill battle to even be considered in the running as standings 1-4 range from 53-45 PTS and 5th place is 36 PTS. Based on the likelihood of their upcoming games and if the rest of the division remains at a standstill while the Roughnecks compete to maintain a winning streak for the remainder of the season, the odds of making the playoffs are very slim. This does not take away from the team’s commendable efforts and memorable moments throughout the regular season.