The Bakersfield Condors beat the Coachella Valley Firebirds 6-1 in Game 1 of their Pacific Division first-round series at Dignity Health Arena on Thursday night. Captain Seth Griffith scored two goals to power the victory, ending a seven-game postseason losing streak. Bakersfield now leads the best-of-five series 1-0.
Bakersfield jumped out to a commanding lead in the opener, with Seth Griffith netting twice. Quinn Hutson, Sam Poulin, James Hamblin and Riley Stillman each added a goal for the Condors. Viljami Marjala, Isaac Howard and Josh Brown picked up two assists apiece, while Matt Tomkins stopped 38 shots in net to secure the win. Ty Nelson scored the lone goal for Coachella Valley, which has now lost seven of its nine games against Bakersfield this season. The victory snapped Bakersfield's skid after playoff sweeps in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Game 2 shifts to Palm Desert on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET, with Game 3, if necessary, set for Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
