Firebirds

Firebirds fall short in season opener, lose 3-2 to Bakersfield Condors

October 13, 2023 10:30 PM

Published October 13, 2023 4:13 PM

The Coachella Valley Firebirds started off their second season with a heartbreaking loss at home after a dramatic comeback.

Firebirds fall short in regular season opener, lose 3-2 to Bakersfield Condors. @KESQ
— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) October 14, 2023

Not the result they wanted but it's just one game. Firebirds fall 3-2 to Bakersfield in the opener at @AcrisureArena. CV is 0-1 with 71 more games in the regular season. @KESQ pic.twitter.com/nutTH11xxo
— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) October 14, 2023

The Firebirds opened their second season in front of a fired-up, sold-out Acrisure Arena Friday night against the Bakersfield Condors.

Birds by the Numbers 🔥🦅🏒🥅🔢@KESQ

1⃣ Seasons played
2⃣ Season that starts tonight
7⃣ Game 7 loss in Finals last year
2⃣2⃣ Games on road to start last year
3⃣6⃣ Games this season at @AcrisureArena
9⃣8⃣ AHL-record total games played last year
💯 Capacity % for tonight's opener
— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) October 13, 2023

The Firebirds were slow to heat up though, falling 2-0 by the start of the third period.

PEDERSON'S FIRST AS A CONDOR

BAK 1, CV 0#condorstown pic.twitter.com/GLUbmkSHSN
— Bakersfield Condors (@Condors) October 14, 2023

Hammer bumps up the lead!!
BAK 2, CV 0#condorstown pic.twitter.com/hH81bCiAiB
— Bakersfield Condors (@Condors) October 14, 2023

But when they heated up, they really heated up, tying the game in quick succession in the middle of the third period.

WE GOT A TIED GAME PEOPLE!!!! pic.twitter.com/X5jxwxUi1w
— Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) October 14, 2023

The Firebirds were on the attack for most of the final period, but the Condors scored with less than two minutes left in the game.

a fight AND a goal???

GO CRAZY #CONDORSTOWN! https://t.co/SVg0EH4zgK pic.twitter.com/97JiR8qYuz
— Bakersfield Condors (@Condors) October 14, 2023

Prior to puck drop, the team held a pre-game ceremony to unveil a Western Conference Champion banner. The team won the title last year, reaching the Calder Cup finals in their incredible inaugural season.

The Firebirds look for redemption in year two.

Check Out: Firebirds have unfinished business heading into second AHL season

15 returners by my count. @Firebirds host @Condors in @TheAHL season debut tonight at @AcrisureArena. We'll have the coverage on @KESQ. https://t.co/3dgCG6rH3p
— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) October 13, 2023

We'll have live coverage of the game all throughout our newscasts. Watch News Channel 3 at 10 and 11 p.m. for highlights and reaction from the team.

Like last year, News Channel 3 will also air a series of games throughout the season.