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.