BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Matthew Phillips scored his team-leading 31st goal of the season but the Stockton Heat (45-16-5-2) fell to the Bakersfield Condors (37-21-5-5) by a 3-1 final Saturday at Mechanics Bank Arena.
Despite the loss, the Heat finish tops in the Pacific Division and will receive a bye through the best-of-three first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, then face the lowest-seeded remaining team in a best-of-five.
The Heat fell behind in the first period, Darien Kielb’s pass to the center of the ice hitting a leg and finding the back of the net for a 1-0 edge through 20 minutes of play.
Phillips then tied the game 1:27 into the second, assists coming from Colton Poolman and Dustin Wolf, but Bakersfield jumped back on top 11:19 into the period with James Hamblin breaking the tie.
Condors leading scorer Seth Griffith then added the insurance goal 11:04 into the third, sealing the win for the home team.
