The Coachella Valley Firebirds secured a 4-2 victory against the Bakersfield Condors at Acrisure Arena on Saturday. The game saw Jani Nyman score two goals in a brief span of 28 seconds during the first period. This win marked the Firebirds’ first victory on home ice since February 23rd.
Bakersfield initially took the lead just 1:06 into the game with Ronnie Attard’s shot surpassing goalie Nikke Kokko. The Firebirds quickly responded, tying the game with Nyman’s powerful shot. Shortly after, Nyman scored again, assisted by Ben Meyers and Oscar Mølgaard, marking Mølgaard’s first AHL point. This goal also allowed Nyman to equal Tye Kartye’s record for most goals by a rookie in Firebirds history.
Cale Fleury contributed with a shot that found the goal, marking his seventh of the season. Nik Brouillard and Jacob Melanson were credited with assists on this play, pushing the Firebirds to a 3-1 lead. Later, Jagger Firkus extended the lead to three with help from Brouillard and Fleury. Brouillard finished the match with three assists.
The Condors made a push in the third period, with Jacob Perreault scoring to reduce the Firebirds’ lead. Despite pulling their goalie for an extra attacker, Bakersfield couldn’t overcome the deficit, concluding the match at 4-2 in favor of Coachella Valley.
The Firebirds now have a record of 37-24-3-5 for the season, securing their 81st and 82nd points and maintaining a fourth-place position in the Pacific Division. The team outshot the Condors 29-23, with Kokko making 21 saves out of 23 shots. Kokko has kept his opponents to two or fewer goals in 10 of his last 11 games.
This victory also ended the Firebirds’ five-game home winless streak. Their regular season matchup against the Condors wrapped up with a record of 5-1-2-1.
Looking ahead, Coachella Valley will host their inaugural Autism Acceptance Night on April 13th and a Fan Appreciation Night on April 18th. Group tickets for these events are available, offering discounts for groups of 10 or more. The team is also preparing for the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs, with presale options available for fans eager to reserve their seats. Season ticket memberships for the upcoming season are on sale now as well.
For more information, fans are encouraged to visit the Firebirds’ official website and follow their social media profiles.
