Bakersfield Condors/Edmonton Oilers goaltender Matt Tomkins (90) gets ready for a shot from the Calgary Flames in a preseason game at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Source: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)In a show of outstanding two-way hockey, the Bakersfield Condors beat the Coachella Valley Firebirds 6-1 in Game One of the First Round Series of the Pacific Division in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs.
The Condors poured two goals in each period despite the Firebirds outshooting Bakersfield 39-27 in the game. Two of the Condors' goals were scored by captain Seth Griffith including the opener on a power play. Season-leading rookie goal-scorer Quinn Hutson, alternate captain James Hamblin, former Penguins' 2019 21st-overall pick Sam Poulin and former Panthers' 2016 fourth-rounder Riley Stillman pocketed one each.
The only flaw with Bakersfield can be pointed towards their undisciplined style of hockey, which put them on the penalty-kill six times in the game. The Condors gave up 13 of the Firebirds' 39 shots in those six PK situations.
And that's where Bakersfield goalie Matt Tomkins produced a game-winning performance, making 38 saves off 39 shots and registering a save percentage of 0.974.