JR Avon’s double-overtime heroics sealed a thrilling Game 5 victory, capping a marathon battle of goaltenders to propel Coachella Valley into a high-stakes showdown with Colorado.
Coming into Saturday’s match up, the Coachella Valley Firebirds and Ontario Reign were tied 2-2 in their best-of-five series. The top-seeded Reign and 4th-ranked Firebirds had spent the past four games battling to out-maneuver each other to take the series and move on to the Pacific Division Final. Game Five would decide it all.
In the first period, Jani Nyman quickly put the Firebirds ahead. The Reign were unable to answer within the first twenty. In the second, the Reign’s Jack Hughes tied the score less than three minutes in to the frame. A few minutes later, Oscar Fisker Mølggaard added another tally putting the Firebirds ahead and giving himself six goals so far this campaign.
Coachella Valle was up 2-1 coming into the third; they fought desperately to keep their lead but Andre Lee tied it for the Reign at 14:37. When the buzzer sounded at the end of 60 minutes, the score was tied 2-2. It would be decided in overtime.
Coachella Valley put 10 shots on goal in the first overtime period, the Reign surpassed them with 12, and not a single one made it to the back of the net. Goaltenders Nikke Kokko and Erik Portillo both stood on their heads to keep their teams in the contest. When 2nd overtime started, the Firebirds were ready to end it. JR Avon found twine just 1:47 into the overtime period. The Reign’s season came to and end.
The Firebirds now advance to the Pacific Division Finals where they will face the Colorado Eagles. Game one will take place Wednesday, May 13th at Acrisure Arena.