Firebirds start SoCal back-to-back with win over San Diego

The Coachella Valley Firebirds defeated the San Diego Gulls on Friday night by the final score of 5-2. Logan Morrison found the back of the net twice to help the Firebirds get back into the win column after back-to-back losses.

History was made on the ice last night when goaltender Nikke Kokko appeared in his 54th game as a member of the Firebirds, setting a franchise record for most games played by a goaltender in team history.

The Firebirds jumped out to 2-0 lead in the first period when Logan Morrison scored his team-leading 15th goal of the season with the assist from Jani Nyman. Morrison would score again just seconds into the power play with a wrist shot from between the circles, set up by Oscar Fisker Molgaard.

San Diego would tie the game at two, but Lleyton Roed scored the go-ahead goal less than five minutes into the second period off the rebound in front of the net for his second goal in as many games. John Hayden and Gustav Olofsson earned the assists on the goal.

Eduard Sale and John Hayden would score the last two goals for Coachella Valley in the third period.

Nikke Kokko set a Firebirds’ franchise record by appearing in the 54th game as a member of the team, the most by any goaltender in team history. Kokko passed both Chris Driedger and Ales Stezka in the record book. The Finnish born netminder made 25 saves on 27 shots in the win as Coachella Valley was outshot by San Diego 27 to 26. The Firebirds’ powerplay finished the game 1-for-2 and the penalty kill went 4-for-4.

Coachella Valley will travel up the I-10 to take on rival Ontario Saturday night at Toyota Arena. Puck drop at 6 p.m.