Firebirds Tie Series on True’s Shorthanded Stunner

The Colorado Eagles looked to eliminate the Coachella Valley Firebirds with one more victory in the Pacific Division Semifinals. The Eagles would see a bolster to their lineup in Ben Meyers and Brad Hunt coming back to the team after the elimination of the their parent affiliate Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. A loss by the Eagles would mean a tied series and risking elimination themselves. With the Utah Grizzlies losing their opening playoff series to Idaho, the Eagles stand as the only team left in the NHL-AHL-ECHL affiliation with hope to continue on.

First Period 

The Firebirds started out the game aggressive, throwing everything they could on net. Coachella Valley then sparked scoring just three and half minutes into the period. Kole Lind led a two-on-three into the Colorado zone and drew three all three Eagles to him. Lind tossed it to a wide open Alexander True who snapped it past goaltender Jonas Johansson to make it 1-0, Firebirds.

Three minutes later, Coachella Valley would have a three-on-one with Luke Henman leading the charge. Henman sauced it over a diving Sam Malinski to Ville Petman to finish the play and make it 2-0. The Eagles started a comeback with ten and half minutes left in the frame. Ondrej Pavel carried the puck into the zone and wrapped around the net. The puck bounced out to the slot right to a charging Ryan Wagner to finish it past goaltender Joey Daccord.

Second Period

Colorado started the second frame with a fire lit under them. For the first two minutes, the Eagles had complete possession of the puck. Colorado’s push would pay off with the tying goal just 2:05 into the period. Meyers gathered the puck in the corner and sent a hard pass to Oskar Olausson. The young forward whipped the shot from the slot and it tipped off of Charles Hudon in front of the net.

Penalties killed Colorado in the second period. As the Eagles were trying to kill off their second five-on-three of the night, the Firebirds took advantage. Coachella Valley cycled the puck around the zone, waiting to strike. Ryker Evans passed it down to Max McCormick on the right side goal line. McCormick found the seam through the crowd to Lind for the Firebirds’ third goal of the night. The frame ended at 3-2, Coachella Valley leading.

Third Period

Just like in the second period, the Eagles started out the third strong. About thirty seconds into the period, the Eagles were able to draw a penalty to put a Firebird in the box. Mikhail Maltsev dug deep in the corner, trying to lose the defender. Maltsev ripped a pass to Hunt across the ice and he wristed a hard shot on goal. Hudon, who was screening Daccord, jumped and tipped the puck again to tie the game at 3-3.

Lind was sent to the box for holding with about 2:30 left in regulation. The Firebirds fought hard on the penalty kill, though, and it paid off. Meyers took a shot from the point with the rebound bouncing to Hunt on the opposite point. Hunt was unable to control it with Carsen Twarynski bearing down on him. True picked it up and took off to get the lead, 4-3.

Conclusion 

Special teams was the biggest problem for the Eagles on Wednesday night. Colorado would go one-for-six on their power play chances, earning their first power play goal of the series after four games played. But, Colorado would also allow a shorthanded goal that cost them the game. The penalty killers also allowed a goal themselves. VP of Communications and Broadcasting Kevin McGlue was even saying on the radio broadcast that, “They just did not look like themselves out there tonight.” Colorado will need to be more aggressive on the net in Game 5, as well as take away the shooting lanes from the Firebirds. 

Game 5 will be on Friday, May 5 (7:00pm PT / 8:00pm MT) in Palm Desert.