Firebirds Second Round Series Even At One

While the Kraken were taking business in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, just 50 miles south in Loveland, CO, kicked off their second-round series against Avalanche AHL affiliate, Colorado Eagles.
Through two games, the best-of-5 series is knotted at one win apiece as it shifts back to Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, CA where the final two, possibly three, games will be played.

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Firebirds Drop Game Two 3-2

After being outshot 39-27 in Game 1, the Eagles made it a point to keep goaltender Joey Daccord busy in Game 2 and did just that, putting 38 shots on goal in the Firebirds' 3-2 loss to Colorado on Thursday.
The Eagles struck first once again when Ryker Evans' pass was intercepted by Cedric Pare who streaked in on a mini breakaway and snapped a shot over the shoulder of Daccord in the first period for a shorthanded goal.
Evans would redeem himself just a minute later on the same powerplay scoring his first pro playoff goal. Evans wristed a puck from the point that Eagles goaltender Jonas Johansson had no chance of seeing with a bevy of bodies between him and the shooter.
In period two with 06:39 to go, Luke Henman put the Firebirds on top when 2022 Kraken first-round pick, Shane Wright carried the puck from behind the net, and from the goalline, sent a backhand saucer pass cross-crease to Henman as he was barreling toward the net. Henman accepted the pass, moved it to his forehand then released a quick snapshot to beat the sprawled Johansson in tight quarters. Eagles defenseman Josh Jacobs would even the score with just 3 seconds remaining in the period.
There was opportunity for the Firebirds in the third period when Eagles forward Alex Galchenyuk, a veteran of 11 NHL seasons, was assessed a four-minute, double-minor for high-sticking at the 8:45 mark but Coachella Valley was unable to capitalize on the extended power play. The eventual game winner was scored by Mikhail Maltsev who scored both goals for Colorado on Wednesday. Maltsev captured a rebound net front and snuck it through the five-hole Daccord to give the Eagles the go-ahead goal with just 4:00 remaining.

Wittchow Scores Twice In Game 1 Win

The Firebirds opened their second round, best-of-5 series, with a convincing victory over the Eagles by a score of 6-2 on Wednesday. The Eagles would open the scoring midway through the first period on a tricky backhand shot by Mikhail Maltsev using a Coachella Valley defender Gustav Olofsson as a screen to beat goaltender Joey Daccord from the high slot.
Veteran, hard-nosed defenseman, Eddie Wittchow answered back just under three minutes later with his first of two goals in the game. Wittchow, 30, playing in his 7th-pro season had never scored a pro playoff goal until Wednesday night and looked every bit a goalscorer, accepting a cross-ice pass at the high circle, taking a step toward goal, then lasering a quick wrist shot over the shoulder of goaltender Justus Annunen to tie the game.
Jimmy Schuldt would add another goal for the Firebirds late first period on the power play. With just three seconds remaining on the man-advantage, rookie and recent signee David Goyette faked a shot on goal then passed to Schuldt at the point who put a wrist shot on net through traffic to give the Firebirds their first lead of the game. Goyette now has two assists in two AHL playoff games - no surprise to anyone that watched him with the OHL's Sudbury Wolves the past two seasons, finishing first on his team in assists (40) as a 17-year old in 2021-22 and second this season with 51. The Firebirds totaled 19 shots on goal in the opening frame.
Firebirds regular season leading scorer, Max McCormick would find the net in the second period and assisted on Eddie Wittchow's second goal to earn the first two of his three points on the night and subsequently, the first start of the game. Daccord made 25 saves while winger Kole Lind added two assists to now lead AHL playoff scoring with 8 points (3g 5a).
Safe to say, by night's end, the state of Colorado treated Kraken and Firebirds' fans well Wednesday night. Just ask Firebird regular, turned recent Kraken call-up, turned first-time NHL goalscorer, Tye Kartye who said he checked the result of the Firebirds game right after the Kraken's 3-2 victory in Denver Wednesday night.
"I checked the score right after the game and I think it was 6-2 so I was super happy for the boys down there. A couple more wins for them and hopefully we can get that series done too," said Kartye, all smiles during his post-game press conference.

Series Returns To Acrisure Arena

Fans new to AHL hockey may be wondering why the series began in Colorado and remained in Colorado for game two despite the Firebirds being the higher seed in the series. In the AHL, teams that are more than 300 highway miles apart will play a 2-3 format, and teams under 300 miles apart play a 2-2-1 format. In the 2-3 format, the higher seed has the choice of playing the first two or the last three games on home ice. In this instance, the Firebirds chose to start on the road then wrap up the series on home ice.
Beginning in the Conference Finals through the Calder Cup Finals, teams will play the traditional best-of-7 series in the 2-2-1-1-1 format that the NHL uses.
Game 3 is Sunday at 3 p.m. Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday, and Game 5 next Friday if necessary - all to be played at Acrisure Arena.