Firebirds Fall Short of Cup

PALM DESERT ­- Coachella Valley took an early two-goal lead in Wednesday's Game 7 of the American Hockey League's Calder Cup Final with goals from rookie star Ryker Evans and captain Max McCormick, prompting the sellout Acrisure Arena crowd to start some "We want the Cup!" chants.

Sadly for Firebirds nation, which grew in big numbers over a record number of postseason games, Hershey scored the game-winning goal with 3:41 remaining in the first overtime to end Coachella Valley's storybook series just one score short of complete magic during an exhilarating inaugural season.

Hershey's Mike Vecchione scored the game-winner 16-plus minutes into the overtime period in which the Firebirds had outshot Hershey, 13-10. Joey Daccord finished with 35 saves and Hershey goalie Hunter Shepard stopped 45.

Those "We want the Cup!" calls waned in the final six minutes of the second period here in the Southern California desert when two Washington Capitals top draft choices, Connor McMichael (2019 first round) and Hendrix Lapierre (2020 first round) evened the score at two apiece.

The setup for a tense third period seemed fitting if uncomfortable for the local Firebirds fan base, given this championship series was knotted at three games apiece and Coachella Valley was playing in its sixth elimination game of the AHL playoffs.

One problem as the third period and a potential Cup-deciding goal beckoned: Hershey goalie Hunter Shepard gave up Firebirds goals early in each of the first two periods, the first one less than five minutes into this Game 7 and the second goal just 24 ticks into the middle period. But the former NCAA University of Minnesota star (he was in net for back-to-back championships). was quietly putting together a commanding performance. He made 28 saves in the first 40 minutes, none bigger than a shorthanded breakaway attempt by Firebirds forward Carsen Twarynski.

When Eddie Wittchow was whistled off to the penalty box just under two minutes into the final period of regulation, the raucous crowd booed the referees but with a bit nerves in the vibe. The Firebirds' stellar penalty killers snuffed out danger, requiring only one long-range shot on Joey Daccord in the two shorthanded minutes (the loyal CVF supporters chanted 'Joey! Joey!' nonetheless, almost as a release of all that tense).

Nail-biting and ear-tugging grew rampant for the locals by mid-period and full-time standing up ensued as every Firebirds rush up ice was anticipated as a possible game-leading goal. The all-in crowd was looking for a hometown hero. It proved to be Daccord, who made a huge point-blank save with less than 10 minutes left to keep it 2-2. That stop came after two near-misses net front for Hershey skaters who couldn't quite get it in the net.

Daccord's glove save one shift later precipitated a cheer nearly as loud as a Coachella Valley goal. Freezing the puck was cheered, despite the danger of Hershey running a set offensive-zone play from the faceoff. While the set play didn't work, it resulted in a penalty call on Firebirds defenseman Brogan Rafferty and two more nervous minutes for fans while Coachella's penalty killers delivered again to keep it even. Hershey controlled the third period, notching eight shots on goal to just three for the Firebirds during the first 16 minutes of the frame.

Game 7 Preview, Calder Cup Final, June 21 (Series tied 3-3)

PALM DESERT - The Firebirds participated in their final morning skate of the 2022-23 inaugural season Wednesday ahead of their biggest game of this wondrous postseason, which will have spanned 72 regular season games and an American Hockey League-record 26 playoff contests.

That's 98 games for Coachella Valley players and coaches who have suited up for all possible matchups and 100 games for Tye Kartye, who mixed in 10 Kraken appearances in the Stanley Cup playoffs (scoring three goals) and by late Wednesday 18 games with the Firebirds.

It's a lot of hockey - with Game 7 against the AHL Eastern Conference Hershey Bears representing Coachella Valley's sixth elimination game during Calder Cup Playoffs. But the Firebirds squad looked fresh at this morning's workout with a high pace over the 40 minutes, plus plentiful cheers and hoorahs for goals scored during drills. One note that might be highly relevant: All Firebirds with power-play duties stayed later than teammates to practice one-timers from respective playoff circles or cranking shots from the blue line.

In a series marked by the home team winning all six games to date, Firebirds fans will no doubt be hoping that stat is a truism for Game 7. The Valley community is clearly buzzing about the team's playoff run and that's with the so-called snowbirds who winter down here from all-points Canada and the Pacific Northwest back in their primary homes. Two examples: CVF director of player operations, Troy Bodie, said he talked playoffs with a bank teller this week and a reporter checking in at an Indian Wells hotel was regaled at check-in by a clerk talking about the atmosphere inside Acrisure Arena when the Firebirds beat Hershey, 5-2, to stay alive and set up Game 7.

So far this series has included three Coachella Valley lopsided wins (5-0, 4-0, 5-2) and a trio of one-goal Firebirds losses in Hershey, including two of the three road games in overtime. The Firebirds chased standout Hershey goalie Hunter Shepard Monday after a fifth-goal against but fully expect he will be the starter Wednesday.

Shepard enters the crucial game with a 13-6 record and .910 save percentage, facing CVF goalie Joey Daccord, who, like his counterpart in net, has started every one of his team's postseason games. Daccord is 15-10 with a .926 save percentage. Both teams have balanced scoring deep into their rosters, so the game-winning goal hero could come from any place among the teams' four lines and three defensive pairs. Fans can watch Game 7 on ROOT SPORTS Plus, AHLTV.com (free Wednesday night) and NHL Network or can listen on 950-KJR and Sirius NHL Network Radio.

GAME 6, AHL Calder Cup Final: Firebirds 5, Hershey 2(Series tied 3-3)

The Coachella Valley Firebirds tied an American Hockey League record Monday for most games played, 25, during a single Calder Cup Playoffs postseason. The expansion squad made it count with a convincing 5-2 victory over Hershey at Acrisure Arena to force a winner-skates-with-the-Cup Game 7 Wednesday night in the southern California desert.

Despite all those games played - seven more than Hershey and a new record no matter Wednesday's outcome - the Firebirds did not look like a tired team, even with a cross-country flight from Eastern Pennsylvania after a tough overtime loss in Game 5 Saturday night. While Washington Capitals 2019 first-round draft choice Connor McMichael scored first for the visitors just a minute and a half into the game, Coachella Valley roared back with three goals in the final 10 of the first period to establish a two-goal lead that Hershey could not overcome.

It's the first time in this championship series that the team that scored first didn't win. On the other hand, Monday's crucial 'W' was the sixth time out of six that the home team prevailed.

Veteran AHL forward Cameron Hughes' highlight-reel goal and third goal of the opening period proved to be the game-winner. Hughes was dishing assists (17) at a high rate in the first four Coachella Valley playoff rounds but hadn't scored a goal. In this fifth postseason round, one more than Hershey had to play to get to Wednesday night, Hughes has four goals and two more assists. Two of those goals were scored in the last five minutes of regulation in last Tuesday's Game 3 overtime loss in Hershey.

Hughes' goal was set up by AHL rookie forward Ville Petman, who just seconds earlier had exited the penalty box. Alternate captain Andrew Poturalski earned his second assist of the period to start the play. Hughes finished the pivotal score by winning a puck battle, working past a Hershey defender, then while falling to the ice, firing the puck past Bears goalie Hunter Shepard.

Hughes and Poturalski were both signed by Kraken GM Ron Francis and Firebirds director of hockey operations Troy Bodie this past summer to fortify an AHL roster short on draft choices and prospects in the Seattle development system because the NHL's 32nd franchise has only been part of two NHL drafts and rules that, simply put, requires players picked from major juniors teams have to be re-assigned to their junior teams if they don't make the NHL roster.

Veteran leadership and clutch play was evident all over the ice Monday night and the sellout crowd of 10,000-plus inside Acrisure Arena brought the noise to fully appreciate it. Captain Max McCormick opened home-squad scoring at 10:10 of the first period, notching the first of two CVF power play goals, thanks to a gorgeous pass from Poturalski and the NHL-tested McCormick's fearless work net-front. Rookie defenseman Ryker Evans earned his first of two assists on the night, joining fellow rookie Petman with two points.

The second Evans assist was just a bit more than two minutes later when the 21-year-old defenseman and 2021 second-round draft pick wristed a shot from the point. Veteran John Hayden, whose Kraken season was cut short by an injury that he rehabbed in time to play the last nine playoff games for the Firebirds, kept his balance and poise to knock in a net-front rebound to give his team a lift and the lead.

It proved Hayden's first goal of the postseason but his contributions have been palpable to Coachella Valley players and coaches. Same for Kole Lind, who scored twice in the final 40 minutes to salt this game after it was a 3-2 game early second period when Hershey scored puck-luck goal that deflected off a defender in front of Joey Daccord. Lind leads all AHL scorers with nine goals and 21 assists for 30 points in 25 games.

Coachella Valley head coach Dan Bylsma and his staff game-planned an effort that held Hershey to just three shots in the middle period when the Firebirds retained a two-goal advantage in the team's fifth elimination game of this postseason. Daccord made 20 saves and delivered more big stops as per usual during a playoff run in which he has posted a 15-10 record and .926 save percentage. Daccord, dynamite playing the puck, even added his third postseason assist when he sent a rink-long pass to Lind on the fifth CVF goal during the power play. From there, Daccord held down his net and the "Joey! Joey!" chants echoed throughout a celebratory arena sure to be hyped and maybe a bit nervous when the puck drops on a historic Game 7 Wednesday night (7 p.m., ROOT SPORTS, NHL Network, AHLTV.com, and Sirius XM NHL Network Radio).

GAME 6 Preview, Calder Cup Final, June 19(Hershey leads series 3-2)

The Coachella Valley Firebirds posted a league-best home record during both their inaugural regular season in the American Hockey League (26-7-1) and now a leading postseason home mark (11-3) for a combined 37-10-1. Monday would be an opportune, well, must-win time to improve on that success at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert.

The Firebirds won the first two games of the AHL's Calder Cup Final in two decisive shutouts (5-0 and 4-0) in the southern California desert. The best-of-seven series shifted to Hershey, PA, for the middle three games. Coachella Valley came up on the short end of a trio of one-goal games, including two overtime losses.

Saturday's Game 5 went 70 minutes without a goal. Firebirds goalie Joey Daccord stopped 30 shots, including six in overtime before Eastern Conference Hershey scored on the 31st shot on goal. The result: CVF must win Monday and again Wednesday in a potential Game 7 to take the Calder, the top development league's version of the Stanley Cup.

Coachella Valley coach Dan Bylsma likes the continued strong outings from his team, which has played 24 postseason games to date compared to 18 for the Hershey Bears: "You can't be disappointed in the guys' effort [Saturday]. What makes us a good team is our compete level. [Game 5] was a hard-fought battle. Zero-zero for 60-plus minutes. Guys' compete effort was there for the whole night.'

Daccord has been outstanding as the ironman goaltender for Coachella Valley, going 14-10 and playing every game of this magical postseason in Year 1 of the franchise. He has logged a .939 save percentage and 1.68 goals-against average in the final series to date.

Bylsma said getting back to the Valley might be just what his squad needs to finish the job of winning the Cup.

"Give a different look," Bylsma said AHL.com reporter Patrick Williams. "Give a different feel. We've got to go back home and use that change of venue, use that momentum (from Games 1 and 2) and get our third win.

"We didn't want to give them three games here in Hershey and force us to go back and win 6 and 7 at home, but it's going to make for a great story."

Fans can watch Game 6 (7 p.m. puck drop) on ROOT SPORTS, NHL Network or AHLTV.com.

GAME 5, AHL Calder Cup Final: Hershey 1, Firebirds 0 (OT)(Hershey leads series 3-2)

Firebirds players and fans alike will be looking for one certain trend to continue when Game 6 of the American Hockey League's Calder Cup Final is played at Acrisure Arena Monday in the southern California desert: That the home team is the victor.

Eastern Conference champion Hershey won its third straight game in this AHL title best-of-seven series, all three at home in central Pennsylvania. Before a sellout crowd of 10,869 - all five games in this showdown have been played to capacity - the Hershey Bears ousted Coachella Valley in a 1-0 overtime affair Saturday night.

Ten minutes into overtime, after Firebirds goalie Joey Daccord had stopped six shots in OT to make it 30 saves on the night, Hershey forward Garrett Pilon beat Daccord glove side with AHL veteran Mason Morelli providing a screen net-front. Daccord turned in another stellar outing, especially shining in the second period when Hershey fired 13 shots and controlled offense-zone possession. His counterpart in net, Hershey goalie Hunter Shepard, made 21 saves (only one in overtime) for his third shutout this postseason.

Both teams were zero-for-three on power plays during regulation. The Firebirds were whistled for two penalties in overtime - not a recipe for success - and killed both penalties. But seven seconds after the second penalty ended, Hershey notched the game-winner and the chance to close out the series Monday.

Firebirds supporters will no doubt be doing their best to inspire the team to advance to winner-takes-the-Cup Game 7 Wednesday in Palm Desert. The crowd noise and loyal backing has proved inspirational in the regular season (best home record in the AHL) and playoffs alike.

Coachella Valley opened the Calder Final with two shutout wins (5-0 and 4-0) but fell to Hershey in three one-goal games out East, including two heartbreakers in overtime. Playing desperate, not a negative in hockey nomenclature, might be just what the Firebirds need to win the needed two home games this week. CVF is 4-0 in elimination games this postseason and 3-0 in winner-advances deciding games in three of their first four rounds. Puck drop for Monday's Game 6 is 7 p.m. and fans can watch any number of future Kraken players on ROOT SPORTS, NHL Network or AHLTV.com.

GAME 4, AHL Calder Cup Final, June 15: Hershey 3, Firebirds 2 (Series tied 2-2)

Home-ice advantage is running the table so far in the American Hockey League's 2023 Calder Cup Final. After Kraken affiliate Coachella Valley swiped Games 1 and 2 with back-to-back shutouts before capacity crowds, the Hershey Bears have notched two home wins to even the series at two games each. Hershey took a 3-1 lead into the third period and hung on for 3-2 victory in regulation.

The pair of conference champs will now square off for two to three more games, with Game 5 Saturday in Hershey and Game 6 Monday plus a potential Game 7 Wednesday back before sellout crowds at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert. First team to four wins celebrates a championship, which would be a first, of course, for the expansion-season Firebirds or the 12th for the venerable Hershey franchise.

Hershey forward Mike Vecchione opened the scoring four-plus minutes in Tuesday's contest and just seven seconds after CVF defenseman Eddie Wittchow was whistled off for high sticking. Vecchione's power-play score was his first goal in the last 10 postseason games and first point in eight games after a regular season in which he scored 23 goals and added 32 assists.

Amid the high-volume noise in the Hershey arena, Austin Poganski took a gorgeous cross-ice pass from 2022 first-round draft choice Shane Wright to tie the score during the 13th minute of the first period. It is Wright's second primary assist in two games and seventh of the playoffs. Wright, who looked sharp on his shifts, confidently entered the Bears zone with the puck and a smart idea to pull up and find Poganski with open time and space.

Vecchione put Hershey ahead for good with another early-period goal during the middle frame. By mid-second period, Ethen Frank scored the ultimate game-winner with Vecchione getting the lone assist. Frank, who hadn't scored a goal all postseason (and was even a healthy scratch earlier in playoffs) notched a goal in each of the two home wins in this series.

Jesper Froden tightened the game to a one-goal margin with a creative effort. Seven minutes into the third period, Froden was poised behind the Hershey net, waiting for just the right lane to feed the right teammate. He saw no opportunity, so he wrapped around the far goal post and beat Bears standout goaltender, Hunter Shepard. Froden has five goals since returning from his reserve role with the Kraken. Max McCormick and Ryker Evans picked up assists.

But Seattle could get no closer and only managed five shots on the goal in the final period and just 21 SOG overall. Hershey was clearly prepared to slow down the Firebirds high-scoring patterns and Coachella Valley head coach Dan Bylsma is likely to have some answers to kickstarting his squad's offensive production in Saturday's Game 5. Fans can tune in to ROOT SPORTS, NHL Network or AHLTV.com for the 4 p.m. Pacific puck drop.

GAME 4 Preview, June 15, Firebirds at Hershey, 4 p.m. PT

Thursday's game against Hershey in the American Hockey League Calder Cup Final is the biggest one in Firebirds team history, which is saying a lot for a team that has played and won four potential elimination games over the first four rounds of the 2023 postseason. Up two games to one in this title series, Coachella Valley can take firm control of the series with a Thursday win.

But the Firebirds are keenly aware of the challenge of preventing Eastern Conference champion Hershey from knotting the series at 2-2 - effectively making it a best-of-three showdown with Game 5 in central Pennsylvania (Saturday, 4 p.m.) and Games 6 and 7 (7 p.m. each night and played as necessary). Coach Dan Bylsma said no Kraken/Firebirds fan should be fooled by the 13-5 goal differential in the series.

"If there's any positives it's we now know we're in a series," Bylsma said Tuesday night after the overtime loss in which the Firebirds rallied from 4-2 with five minutes remaining.

"The scores I don't think were indicative in Game 1 and Game 2 of how the game was played. How Hershey played [Tuesday] is evidence we're going up against a real good team and we're going to have to be at our very best to beat these guys. You look at how we played the last 10 minutes of the third and then in overtime, that's how we're going to have to play to win this series.

"We planned right from the start for 420 minutes of hockey and a seven-game series. We're in for a long one. We know we're playing a real good Hershey team, and we expected it to be a battle."

Hershey coach Todd Nelson, who has now faced Bylsma in Calder Cup finals as player, assistant coach and head coach, is equally aware of his Bears squad's task at hand. He was happy with Tuesday's performance but wary of what's next.

"That team we're playing against never stopped and never quit," Nelson said about Tuesday. "That's a credit to them. They're a good hockey team, but we have to make them earn their goals."

Fans can tune in to Game 4 (4 p.m.) on ROOT SPORTS,

AHLTV.com

, and NHL Network. ROOT SPORTS and NHL Network will also be airing Game 5 Saturday (4 p.m.).

GAME 3, AHL Calder Cup Final, June 13: Hershey 5, Firebirds 4 (OT)

Just when it appeared the Hershey Bears were riding a two-goal lead to secure a home win in Game 3 of the American Hockey League Calder Cup Final, the Firebirds upended that scenario with a pair of goals in the final four-and-a-half minutes from forward Cameron Hughes. After recording 17 assists in the first 20 games of this historic Coachella Valley first-ever postseason, Hughes has now scored three goals in the last two games.

The Firebirds applied plenty of pressure in the first dozen minutes of the ensuing overtime, with the best chance coming on an Alexander True cross-zone pass to all-star rookie defenseman Ryker Evans. Jumping into the play, Evans wristed a hard shot past Hershey goaltender Hunter Shepard only to have the puck clang the inside part of the near post.

A couple of shifts later, the home squad Bears were the team on the hunt in the Kraken defensive zone and getting shots on net. After an icing call on the Firebirds, Hershey won the faceoff, and veteran forward Mason Morelli challenged Firebirds goalie Joey Daccord with a point-blank shot. Daccord made the stop but the rebound caromed to Hershey's Riley Sutter, who spun and backhanded a close-in shot Daccord couldn't block.

If the Sutter name sounds familiar or you know enough to think, "Is he related to the six Sutter brothers who all played in the NHL?", that's because Tuesday night's hero is the son of Ron Sutter, who played 1,197 career games (regular season and playoffs) from 1982 to 2001. Son Riley starred for the Western Hockey League Everett Silvertips before getting drafted in the third round by the Washington Capitals in 2018.

The AHL championship series and quest for the Calder Cup now stands at two to one in games in favor of Coachella Valley with a pivotal Game 4 back in Hershey Thursday night (4 p.m. puck drop). Thursday's outcome can put the series in Firebirds control or transform matters into a best-of-three showdown with Game 5 in central Pennsylvania before Games 6 and 7 (both if necessary) would return to Acrisure Arena in the southern California desert for Firebirds home dates on June 19 and 21.

After being on the losing end of 5-0 and 4-0 defeats in Games 1 and 2, Bears goalie Hunter Shepard stopped 33 of 37 shots, including six in overtime. Hershey forward Ethen Frank, who posted 30 goals and 19 assists in 58 regular season games, scored his first goal of the postseason to open the scoring Tuesday. Firebirds defenseman Brogan Rafferty tallied his second goal of the playoffs to knot the game at 1-1 after the first period.

After two second-period scores for the home squad, CVF forward Carsen Twarynski halved the lead with his fifth goal of the playoffs with 2022 first-rounder Shane Wright supplying the assist (his sixth this postseason). But Hershey notched a response goal 48 seconds later to ultimately climb back into this Calder Cup Final between expansion squad Coachella Valley and the longest-running AHL franchise.

Game 3 Preview, June 13, Firebirds at Hershey, 4 p.m.

The Firebirds will play the middle games of the American Hockey League's 2023 Calder Cup Final in hostile territory this week. Game 3 is Tuesday with a 4 p.m. Pacific puck drop in Hershey, PA (watch on ROOT SPORTS Plus or

AHLTV.com

).

The trip out East will be familiar to a number of Coachella Valley players. Defenseman Eddie Wittchow, who has scored three goals in the playoffs, played 89 games for Hershey over three seasons. Max McCormick, Kole Lind, Alexander True, and Carsen Twarynski all played for Charlotte and were part of the Checkers winning the 2021-22 AHL season series over Hershey with a 5-2-1 record in which Firebirds goalie Joey Daccord was materially involved.

Two shutout defeats against Daccord out West is not sitting well with Hershey coach Todd Nelson.

"We've got to start by scoring a goal," said Nelson, who played seven AHL seasons and appeared in three NHL games before serving as an assistant and head coach in the AHL. "C'mon, it's been two games [with no goal], and we only scored one in the game prior [a 1-0 win in Game 6 clincher over Rochester to become Eastern Conference champs.]

"Certain guys that have done it all year, they have to come to the party [Tuesday] night. It's one of those situations where 'Hey, this is it.' We have to find a way to make sure that we're playing our best hockey."

Nelson didn't name names but he no doubt was including the team's leading postseason scorers: Aliaksei Protas (five goals), Mason Morelli (5), and Connor McMichael (4). Protas played 58 games with the parent-club Washington Capitals while Morelli is an AHL veteran and McMichael is a 2019 first-round draft choice with a high upside. Along with more scoring punch - and CVF goalie Daccord will have his say in that - the Bears will be looking to stay out of the penalty box. Hershey was whistled for 10 minor penalties in Game 2.

GAME 2, AHL Calder Cup Final, June 10: Firebirds 4, Hershey 0

The homemade signs calling out fan favorite Joey Daccord at Acrisure Arena are hard to miss and even harder to resist the creative messaging: "Joey the Jedi" and "Daccording to me, Firebirds will win the Cup."

With Saturday night's win over Calder Cup Final foe Hershey, a 4-0 shutout to pair with Thursday's 5-0 blanking of the visiting Eastern Conference champions in Game 1 of the AHL's title series, the Firebirds are halfway to hoisting a Cup in their inaugural season. Daccord finished with 33 saves to increase his record to 14-7 in the postseason with a .930 save percentage.

The CVF goaltender made two early saves on Grade-A chances and rejected all 15 Hershey shots on goal in the first period to keep a clean scoresheet before his high-scoring teammates caught up. Four different Firebirds scored in the middle period to take control of the game, with, no surprise really, Daccord picking up his second assist of the playoffs on a Cameron Hughes goal late in the second frame.

"Any shutout is not just about the goalie," said Daccord post-game, just a few moments after skating onto the ice as First Star of the Night, taking the traditional double water-bottle shower from whomever is the Second Star (Cameron Hughes in this case). "The guys blocks and our PK [penalty kill] did a great job."

About that penalty-killing: Yes, Daccord made seven saves against Hershey's top scorers in the first six-plus minutes of Saturday's victory, four in the first five minutes when the visiting Bears appeared to be channeling motivated energy to tie this series before the two squads head to Central Pennsylvania for three games (Game 5 if necessary).

When Jesper Froden was whistled off for holding at 5:09 into the game, Daccord made three more stops to keep his scoreless streak alive. As it turned out, Daccord is the first AHL goalie since 1939 and the Cleveland Barons' Moe Roberts to record back-to-back shutouts to open a Calder Cup series.

While the Firebirds' Froden was the first to go to the penalty box, Hershey was called for 10 penalties, not including an end-of-game scrap between veterans John Hayden of Coachella Valley and Mason Morelli of the visiting Bears. Hershey defenseman Dylan McIlrath was sent for minor penalties and then a 10-minute misconduct late in this affair.

Coachella Valley converted on two power-play goals, the first and fourth goals of the raucous night. Froden redeemed his first-period penalty five minutes into the game by opening the game's scoring five-plus minutes into the second period. The aforementioned AHL veteran Cameron Hughes picked the primary assist for his 18th assist of the postseason along with Alexander True notching the secondary assists.

All of the Game 2 scoring was unveiled in the second period. After Froden scored his fourth goal of the postseason (he missed games because he was with the Kraken during the parent club's impressive postseason), forward Austin Poganski tallied his first postseason goal with assists from top Kraken prospects and high draft picks, forward Shane Wright (4th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft) and defenseman Ryker Evans (35th overall in 2021).

Coachella Valley kept the pressure on from there, using the home squad's speed and a ferocious forechecking scheme to disrupt the Hershey offensive attack and prompt a loss of poise among Bears players. Evans, who has been turning heads all season with his own speed, hockey IQ and willingness to tangle with any opponent no matter the size, scored the third goal midway through the second period to stretch the game to a three-goal advantage. AHL postseason-scoring leader Kole Lind notched his fourth primary assist in this season and now has 27 points in 21 postseason games. Firebirds captain Max McCormick earned the secondary assist.

From there, Cameron Hughes took a puck last touched by Daccord the full length of the rink to beat Hershey's Hunter Shepard. Hughes celebrated like it was his first goal of the playoffs, since in fact, it was, to go along with 18 assists. From there, Daccord stopped all 10 shots from Hershey in the final period, then circled the Acrisure Arena ice sheet with fervor, fist pumps, and undeniable intent to both thank and rev up the Firebirds faithful when announced as the game's first star. Next stop is in Hershey for Game 3 Tuesday night with a 4 p.m. Pacific time puck drop.

GAME 2 PREVIEW, AHL Calder Cup Final, June 10

When the Coachella Valley Firebirds beat Hershey, 5-0, Thursday night in Game 1 of the American Hockey League's Calder Cup championship round, it marked the first time this season the two teams faced each other. But the Firebirds roster boasts a number of key players who were part of the AHL Charlotte Checkers during the 2021-22 season when the Kraken shared a split-squad team with the Florida Panthers while the new and recently super-loud Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, CA, was under construction.

Those players include this spring's AHL postseason scoring leader, forward Kole Lind, and fan-favorite goalie Joey Daccord (.927 save percentage and 13-7 in CVF's 20 playoff games during this Cup run.) Last year's Charlotte team finished 5-2-1 against Hershey in the season series.

"They're definitely a similar team," said Daccord during a conversation Friday. "They have a lot of the same players, but they've upgraded a few positions. Some of their top players are having really good seasons and they brought in other high-end guys too. It's a deep group. We definitely have a lot of respect for them. We expect [the Calder Cup Final] to be a good battle all the way to the end."

Lind, who notched primary assists on the first three goals in Thursday's runaway victory to stand at 26 points (seven goals, 19 assists) to date, said Coachella Valley players and coaches expect a bounce-back effort from Hershey. The visiting Bears made easy work of their first two opponents in the Eastern Conference playoffs after a first-round bye, then eliminated Rochester 4-2 in a best-of-seven series after losing the opening game.

"We're expecting a tight-checking game," said Lind. "We definitely expect better from them than Game 1."

Lind said he and his teammates recognize the value of heading to central Pennsylvania with a two-win advantage since Games 3, 4, and 5 (the latter if necessary will be played) will take place in Hershey: "We expect them to try to build some momentum into that homestand of theirs."

Game 2's puck drop is 7 p.m. Fans can tune in on ROOT SPORTS Plus or AHLTV.com. The Firebirds expect another sellout crowd that entertains almost as much as the players.

GAME 1, AHL Calder Cup Final, June 8: Firebirds 5, Hershey 0

Before this 2023 version of the American Hockey League's Calder Cup Final started to determine a champion among 32 teams that serve as the top development teams for NHL franchises, Coachella Valley Firebirds coach Dan Bylsma noted the unique nature of the event.

"You play a totally new opponent," said Bylsma, who has appeared as both player and now head coach the AHL's Cup final. "They have not seen you, you have not seen them. It will come down to who imposes their will on the opposition sooner."

Will imposing stands at 1-0 in favor of the Firebirds, who notched the first goals of the game in the opening 40 minutes, one in each period, then put their skates and sticks on the momentum pedal to win 5-0 before a sellout and deliriously joyful crowd of 10,087 at Acrisure Arena in the Southern California desert. Hershey entered the game with a perfect 6-0 record on the road during this spring's AHL playoffs. Coachella Valley posted a league-leading home record during this inaugural season. Something had to give.

Forward Tye Kartye continued his head-turning, NHL-roster-seeking ways to get his teammates off to nabbing the Firebirds' fifth Game 1 victory in five rounds. He scored his sixth goal in the Calder Cup playoffs while taking a break to log three more scores for the Kraken during the Stanley Cup postseason.

On a first-period power play, the undrafted Kartye unleashed his elite-level shot from long range, beating Hershey star goalie Hunter Shepard. The assists went to the AHL postseason's leading scorer, forward Kole Lind (seven goals, 19 assists for 26 points in 20 games), and rookie sensation and defenseman Ryker Evans. That duo registered the same primary assists (Lind) and (Evans, now third in AHL playoff scoring with three goals and 16 assists) on the first three Coachella Valley goals.

Another impressive AHL rookie, Ville Petman, also scored from longer range in the middle period on a high-hockey IQ pass from Lind. Early third period, alternate captain and forward Andrew Poturalski made it 3-0 with mega-decibel crowd noise to match the significance of a three-goal lead. Poturalski, who has won two Calder Cups in his AHL career, assisted on Jesper Froden's and the Coachella Valley's fourth goal to subsequently earn First Star of the Game honors. Twenty-eight seconds later, forward Alexander True kept scoring pace with linemates Lind and Max McCormick by scoring on a deft behind-the-net pass from McCormick.

To no one's surprise among the CVF players, coaches, or fan base, the "Joey! Joey!" chants goaltender Joey Daccord started early and often in Thursday's celebratory Calder Cup opener. Same for the "Let's go Firebirds" chants. Daccord recorded 25 saves, none bigger than a breakaway save on Hershey forward Joe Snively less than two minutes into the game. The stop set up the route and erased any guilt of a misplayed puck.

Yet Bylsma and his squad know one game is not a series and that Bears coach Todd Nelson (who has previously competed against Bylsma in Calder Cup finals as both a player and assistant coach) will have a revised strategy for Game 2 when the puck drops at 7 p.m. Saturday (fans can watch on ROOT SPORTS Plus or

AHLTV.com

).

"It's awesome to get this opening win," said Poturalski post-game, no doubt thinking about his previous AHL postseasons. "But we have a long way to go. We'll look at film [Friday] and continue to play our style, which is fast, skilled, and scoring a lot of goals. The fans were huge for us tonight."

Preview: Calder Cup Final: Hershey Bears vs. Coachella Valley Firebirds

Game 1, Thursday, Hershey at Coachella Valley, 7 p.m, ROOT SPORTS

There's nearly as many storylines as warmup pucks for the 2023 Calder Cup between Kraken American Hockey League affiliate Coachella Valley and Hershey (PA) that starts tonight at Acrisure Arena. Stick with us for game coverage and other series updates as the Firebirds seek a highly coveted trophy in their inaugural season.

ROOT SPORTS has announced it will air Games 1 and 2 Thursday and Saturday (7 p.m.). Game 1 will be on ROOT SPORTS and Saturday's 7 p.m. puck drop can be viewed on ROOT SPORTS Plus. There will be plenty to cover and discuss:

GAME 6, AHL Western Conference Final, June 5: Firebirds 4, Milwaukee 3

Fueled by a high-octane blend of clutch veterans and outstanding American Hockey League rookies, the Kraken affiliate Coachella Valley Firebirds revved past visiting Milwaukee to be crowned Western Conference champions Monday. The victory before a raucous sellout crowd of 10,000-strong at Acrisure Arena cinched a 4-2 series win for the Firebirds and earned a Thursday Game 1 date in the 2023 Calder Cup Final against the East champ Hershey Bears. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 pm PT at Arcisure Arena in Palm Desert, CA.

While Tye Kartye scored twice in the third period to spark the win, Coachella Valley veteran center Alexander True opened the scoring for the Firebirds, who scored first in five of the six games in the series. True was assisted by veteran linemates Max McCormick (scored the game-winner in Game 5) and Kole Lind (leads the AHL in postseason with seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points).

Seven minutes later. AHL all-star and defenseman Ryker Evans scored his third goal with the playoffs to make it a 2-0 lead for the home squad. The scoring play was set up by Andrew Poturalski (back from a long injury layoff and vying for his second Calder Cup in two years after leading Chicago to the title last season) and Cameron Hughes (his 17th assist in the playoffs, leading all AHLers).

Evans has 13 assists and leads all AHL defensemen in scoring during the postseason. But not to be overshadowed about the 2021 second-rounder is his consistent play in the defensive zone and physical approach to his first pro season. One example: Near the end of the second period, Milwaukee's Philip Tomasino, a fellow 21-year-old and Nashville first-round draft pick (2019, 24th overall) who's played 107 games for the Predators, was hassling Joey Daccord net-front after the Firebirds goalie froze the puck. Evans was having none of it, pushing back Tomasino and clearing the crease.

For his part, Daccord proved both hero and crowd favorite throughout a thrilling and mega-decibel night that Kraken GM Ron Francis and Coachella Valley director of hockey operations Troy Bodie both dreamed and envisioned. Daccord made big stops, holding the line to the one- goal advantage when Milwaukee scored to make it 2-1 in the second period and 3-2 early third period. With help from head coach Dan Bylsma's systems of play and Daccord's teammates carrying out the game plan, Daccord stopped all six shots from forward and 2022 first-rounder Joakim Kemell, who scored six goals (four game-winners, including two in this series) over the postseason after he finished a stellar pro season in his native Finland.

Kartye took to his continued playoff success - AHL and NHL - by scoring twice after Milwaukee had reduced two-goal margins down to a one-goal game. He notched his first goal six minutes into the middle period after an early Admirals score just two minutes into the second period. Veteran John Hayden earned the primary assist, his first playoff point after he underwent surgery while injured playing for the Kraken.

Finnish forward Ville Petman, like Kartye an undrafted free agent player signed by Seattle, notched the secondary assist. Bylsma has said all season Petman (along with Kartye and Evans) are his three players who have improved the most from training camp to now the Calder Cup Final.

With Milwaukee tightening the game at 3-2 with another early goal tallied before the two-and-a-half-minute mark of the final period, the Firebirds aggressively worked a power play just a few shifts later. Coachella Valley spent most of the man-advantage situation in the Admirals zone, peppering goalie Devin Cooley and hitting a crossbar too. The pressure paid off when Firebirds Max McCormick, behind the goal line, found Kartye for an open look. Kartye quickly released his NHL elite shot (proven in the Kraken fun) to score the game-winner. McCormick's assists is his 10th in this marvelous postseason to go with 12 goals. Kole Lind was credited with an assist too, keeping him one point ahead of McCormick for the postseason scoring lead.

Milwaukee scored a third goal to make it a one-goal game for the third time. But Daccord and crew held it down from there, with many "Joey" chants and a couple handfuls of homemade Daccord pun signs emanating from the crowd. Daccord, in goal for all of the Firebirds' 12 wins to date, rejected all sorts of Milwaukee scoring chances. One standout save came late on Philip Tomasino and he stopped AHL scoring star Luke Evangelista during a late-game power play when Petman was whistled for the rare penalty for closing his glove around a puck after a faceoff. Daccord, who was high-fiving fans coming off the ice during intermissions and serving as a lead appreciator of the fans on the ice after the win, finished with 29 saves.

GAME 5, AHL Western Conference Final, June 3: Firebirds 2, Milwaukee 1

Coachella Valley bounced back from two straight road losses in the American Hockey League Western Conference final to win Game 5 in Milwaukee Saturday night. Max McCormick, Firebirds captain and the league's leading goal scorer in the postseason scored the game-winning goal in the second period and the Firebirds hung on for a 2-1 win and a 3-2 advantage in the series.

Monday's Game 6 will be the first of two home-ice opportunities at Acrisure Arena for CVF to advance to the Calder Cup Final in the team's inaugural season. The team coming out of the West will the face Washington Capitals affiliate and venerable AHL franchise Hershey (PA) Bears.

To face Hershey, the Firebirds will have to notch a fourth win in the ongoing series, the always-hardest-to-win contest (per Kraken alternate captain and two-time Stanley Cup winner Yanni Gourde, who advanced to the Calder Cup Final in 2017 with Tampa Bay's Syracuse Crunch).

It looked like the Milwaukee Admirals, another venerable AHL franchise, would be the squad looking for just one more win during Saturday's first period. The home squad was awarded four power plays in the first period with McCormick whistled for roughing six minutes into the game and then slashing five minutes later. Milwaukee tallied the opening goal during that second power play, the first time the Admirals started the scoring in five games in this series. Just a bit more than two minutes later, Firebirds star rookie defenseman Ryker Evans was sent to the penalty box for a four-minute minor, but Coachella Valley goalie Joey Daccord and his teammates held off Milwaukee to keep it a one-goal deficit at the first intermission.

Firebirds defenseman Brogan Rafferty, an AHL veteran who grew up in nearby West Dundee, IL, tied matters at 1:22 of the second period, showing slick moves for his first goal of the playoffs to go with nine goals during the regular season. Rafferty's sizeable personal cheering sections went bonkers in the stands as Andrew Poturalski (just back in action during this series after a long stint on the injured list) and Cameron Hughes (his AHL-leading 16th assist) set up the play.

McCormick redeemed himself for the Milwaukee power play goal by converting another well-executed scoring chance, taking a behind-the-net feed from Kole Lind and quickly shooting. It's McCormick's 12th goal of the postseason and third game-winner among a number of clutch goals over the first four playoff rounds Coachella Valley has played in franchise history. The captain's linemates, Lind (14) and True (10) are now both in double-digits in assists during the postseason.

Milwaukee pressured frequently in the third period but Daccord and the Firebirds' consistently strong defensive play under head coach Dan Bylsma secured the needed Game 5 victory. CVF killed one more penalty (Tye Kartye for tripping) in the final five minutes and shut down the late-game 6-on-5 empty net situation before a loud crowd. Daccord finished with 25 saves. Both teams meet again back in the Southern California desert for Monday's Game 6 puck drop at 7 p.m. Fans can tune in at

AHLTV.com

.

GAME 4, AHL Western Conference Final, June 1: Milwaukee 5, Firebirds 2

Despite defenseman Jimmy Schuldt scoring the game's opening goal and Coachella Valley tying the game at 2-2 in the second period, Milwaukee earned a second straight home win to turn the 2023 American Hockey League Western Conference Final into a now best-of-three affair. Each squad has won on home ice in the first four games.

Game 5 is Saturday in Milwaukee, then Game 6 returns to Acrisue Arena in Palm Desert and, if necessary, Game 7 will be played at Acrisure Arena where the AHL affiliate Firebirds posted the league's best home record during the regular season, which, oh by the way, was the team's inaugural season. Game 6 is Monday with a 7 p.m. start and Game 7 would be Wednesday.

Schuldt's goal was his fifth of the playoffs, adding to his Kraken organization value amplified by Schludt being a mentor to 2021 second-round draft choice Ryker Evans. Assists went to Firebirds' stalwarts Alexander True (ninth of the Calder Cup playoffs) and Kole Lind (13 assists), both expansion draft choices in the summer of 2021.

After a 1-1 first period, the Nashville affiliate Admirals took a brief 2-1 lead one minute into the middle period. But CVF defenseman Eddie Wittchow notched his third goal of the postseason with assists from Jesper Froden and Andrew Poturalski. Froden (reassigned to the Firebirds after the Kraken postseason) and Poturalski (just back from a long stint on the injured list) have returned to the lineup after impressive first halves of the season for Coachella Valley.

Milwaukee backup goalie Devin Cooley won his second straight game, replacing rookie Yaroslav Askarov. He recorded 30 saves Thursday after stopping 28 on Memorial Day in his first appearance since mid-April. Joey Daccord, now 10-7 in the playoffs, made 21 saves and was not in net for the Milwaukee's late empty net goal. Joakim Kemell, Nashville's first-round draft pick last summer (17th) overall, scored his fourth game-winning goal of the postseason mid-second period. The Central Division Admirals scored an insurance goal just 17 seconds into the third period on a shorthanded score.

GAME 3, AHL Western Conference Final, May 29: Milwaukee 3, Firebirds 1

No one said it would be easy for AHL affiliate Coachella Valley to advance to the Calder Cup Final in the first year of the franchise. Let's remember the Firebirds started this inaugural campaign with 21 away games (four were "home" games in the Seattle area) before their home opener in mid-December.

What's more, Coachella Valley has already worked through three rounds to date, beating Tucson, Colorado and Calgary to win the 10-team Pacific Division title with each series going to the maximum number of games. CVF joins the 2002 Chicago Wolves as the only teams in AHL history to win three winner-take-all games in a single postseason. The Firebirds are 4-0 when facing elimination this postseason.

So it makes perfect playoffs sense that after 2022 first-round draft pick Shane Wright opened the scoring before the Milwaukee Admirals responded with a pair of second-period goals and then added an important third goal five-plus minutes in the final third. The Nashville Predators' 2022 first-round draft choice (17th overall) Joakim Kemell scored the game-winner, his seventh of the AHL playoffs after completing his regular season in his native Finland's top pro league.

The Milwaukee win moves the series to a 2-1 Kraken advantage. The teams play two more (Thursday and Saturday) in Milwaukee before playing Games 6 and 7 (if necessary back at high-decibel Acrisure Arena). Milwaukee finished the AHL regular season eighth overall in the 32-team league and second to the Texas Stars in the Central Division. The Admirals have played two best-of-five earlier-rounds series to the limit, including winning a Game 5 on the road to get past Texas.

Wright scored his second professional postseason goal with assists from ECHL star and Firebirds call-up Jeremy McKenna and veteran AHLer Cameron Hughes (the latter leads the AHL with 15 postseason assists). Joey Daccord made 34 saves in the Coachella Valley net while Milwaukee goalie Devin Cooley made his Calder Cup Playoffs debut, stopping 28 of 29 shots in his first action since April 14. Thursday's Game 4 puck drop is 5 p.m. and can be watched on AHLTV.com.

GAME 2, AHL Western Conference Final, May 27: Firebirds 5, Milwaukee 3

At midseason in Coachella Valley's inaugural season in the American Hockey League, coach Dan Bylsma was surmising that forward Ville Petman was his squad's most improved player from training camp to the all-star break. He called out the 23-year-old Finn's hard-nosed play in all zones and ability to adjust to the more physical North American game compared to his previous four seasons competing in his country's top pro league.

Petman proved out his coach's confidence and same for the Kraken hockey operations signing the undrafted forward to a two-year entry-level contract last July. With the Firebirds up 2-1 against visiting Milwaukee in Saturday's Game 2 of the AHL Western Conference final, Pettman received a pass from 2022 first-round draft pick Shane Wright without breaking stride in the offensive zone. Pettman wired his shot from the right faceoff circle past Admirals goalie Yaroslav Askarov.

It's Petman's fourth goal of the impressive Coachella Valley postseason and Wright picked up his fourth assist since joining the AHL squad after his major junior Windsor Spitfires were knocked out in the first round of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs.

The left-shot Finn can play center or wing. Along with playing in Liiga over the past four seasons, Petman appeared in more than 70 games on national teams in world championships tournaments. He exhibited significant progress over the four seasons, culminating with a 2021-22 season in which he scored 15 goals and 24 assists in 59 games with SaiPa, the pro team in his hometown of Lappeenranta. Last season, he played roughly 20 minutes per game and spent time on the team's top line. His AHL play is another strong step in the right direction.

Firebirds and NHL-tested Alexander True opened Saturday's Game 2 scoring with an unassisted goal in the first 61 seconds of the first period, unleashing high decibels from the Acrisure Arena crowd being treated to the home team's fourth rounds of Calder Cup Playoffs to date.

Milwaukee tied matters five minutes later, then both Askarov and Firebirds goalie Joey Daccord settled into goalie-duel mode until Swedish forward Jesper Froden, back with CVF after his stint with the Kraken, put the Firebirds ahead for good just one minute and 45 seconds into Period 2. The quick-strike goal was started by defenseman and alternate captain Gustav Olofsson (looking sharp after a long stay on injured reserve). Star rookie D-man Ryker Evans notched his 13th assist, this one primary, getting the puck to Froden.

Daccord and his teammates held off Milwaukee from there, the goalie making big saves and Coachella Valley skaters blocking shots, swatting away rebounds and mounting plenty of scoring chances and shots themselves. Daccord was especially clutch with six saves after a Milwaukee goal four minutes into the final frame, making it 3-2. The fan favorite finished with 24 saves.

Arguably Daccord's most important and standout save of the night foiled Admirals forward Adam Wilsby with just over two minutes left in the game. Just 13 seconds later, with Milwaukee replacing Askarov with a sixth skater, Firebirds captain Max McCormick stole the puck at his own blue line and skated the puck to the empty net for his second game-winning goal in this series. The two teams now move to Milwaukee for Games 3 and 4, plus Game 5 if necessary. Puck drop for Monday's third game of the series is 4 p.m. Pacific and can be viewed on AHLTV.com.

GAME 1, AHL Western Conference Final, May 25: Firebirds 6, Milwaukee 4

Coachella Valley forward Max McCormick is a bit of an unsung hero in the Kraken organization. Along with scoring big goals and leading the American Hockey League in scoring this postseason, McCormick has mentored some of Seattle's more promising prospects this season while captaining the AHL expansion team Firebirds to the second-best regular season record among 32 teams. His character and hockey IQ are emblematic of the players Kraken GM Ron Francis and his hockey operations staff seek when acquiring players.

McCormick did his latest bit of leading in impressive and resounding fashion. With Coachella Valley giving up a third goal early in the third period of Thursday's Game 1 of the AHL Western Conference final, staking visiting Milwaukee to its first lead of the game, McCormick roused his squad and the packed Acrisure Arena home crowd. He scored a tying goal when he and linemates Alexander True and Kole Lind - all of whom saw action with Seattle in the inaugural season ­- were buzzing in the Milwaukee zone.

True had just missed on a point-blank opportunity in the high slot in front of the Admirals net, when the former Western Hockey League Seattle Thunderbirds playoffs star didn't quit on the play. True secured the puck off a scramble and passed immediately to McCormick, who didn't hesitate. The Firebirds faithful burst into high decibels and perhaps even a sense of relief to go with the joy because playoff hockey, AHL or NHL, can get tight when one team goes up 3-2 in the third period.

Forty-seven seconds later, CVF forward and last season's AHL scoring leader with Calder Cup champion Chicago, Andrew Poturalski scored on a sweet deke and deadly-accurate mid-range wrist shot to make it 4-3 Coachella with bedlam ensuing in the swagged-out crowd. The two goals, at 7:22 and 8:09 of the frame, are logged as own-own response goals and couldn't have been placed into Thursday's drama at any better time.

At 10:54, McCormick struck again with what turned out to be a game-winner, this time with the solo assist coming from linemate Kole Lind, whose two-assist night keeps him at No. 1 among all AHL skaters in these 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs with 18 points (7 goals, 11 assists). Seven minutes later, with Milwaukee putting out a sixth skater, McCormick and Lind were steaming into the Admirals zone with the puck and a highly likely chance to ice the game and go up 1-0 in the series that determines which team advances to the AHL championship round.

Rather than notch the goal himself, Lind moved the puck to McCormick for the hat trick. McCormick now leads the AHL in postseason goals with 10. All that heroics while McCormick has been a role model and road trip roommate with Kraken rookie Tye Kartye, who scored the night's opening goal on the power play with an assist by the swift-skating Ryker Evans entering the Milwaukee zone, then dropping a perfect pass to Kartye. McCormick and Evans both represented the Firebirds at AHL midseason All-Star weekend activities in Quebec.

McCormick is second to Lind in points with 17, followed by AHL rookie and 2021 second-round draft pick Evans (2G, 12A) standing at third with 14 points. Veteran AHLer and Firebirds forward Cameron Hughes is fourth with 13 points (all assists) while True is fifth highest at 12 points (4G, 8 A).

Nashville prospect Luke Evangelista has 13 points in 11 games to stand fourth with Hughes but Coachella Valley stopped him from an entry in the scoresheet Thursday in another example of Firebirds coach Dan Bylsma instilling an all-zones, relentless forechecking/backchecking system that has become emblematic of the Kraken style of play. Milwaukee did score one 6-on-5 goal with just under two minutes to make it a 6-4 final.

Goaltender and desert fan favorite Joey Daccord made 17 saves for his ninth postseason. The victory is the fourth straight Game 1 success in the playoffs for Coachella Valley. Game 2 is Saturday night (7 p.m.,

AHLTV.com

) at the raucous Acrisure Arena before the series moves to the Midwest for Games 3, 4 and 5 (the latter if necessary).

Stick with the Firebirds Cup Run blog for the latest on the team's quest to win the Calder Cup in the first year of the franchise.