Facing elimination, Coachella Valley unleashed a second-period surge and a dominant six-goal performance to stun Ontario, keeping their playoff dreams alive for a decisive winner-take-all showdown.
Coming into tonight’s match up, the Firebirds were in a do-or-die situation. The series sat at 2-1 in favor of Ontario, and another loss would mean the end of Coachella Valley’s playoff run. The Firebirds were not ready to call it a season.
Jack Hughes (not THAT Jack Hughes) opened the scoring for the Reign 14 minutes into the first period. The Firebirds battled, but it took a powerplay to get them on the board. Hughes took two minutes for tripping at 17:28, and buy 17:34, JR Avon had tied it up for Coachella Valley. Six seconds of 5-on-4 action was all it took. Despite the first period ending 1-1, the Firebirds outshot the Reign 15 to 5.
The second period was all Firebirds. Mitchell Stephens posted his second goal of the post-season and rookie defenseman Kaden Hammell notched his first AHL playoff goal. In the third, he would go on to add an assist, and the goal would turn out to be the game-winner.
The scoring onslaught continued in the third: Lleyton Roed, Jagger Firkus, and Oscar Fisker Mølgaard all putting their stamps on the scoreboard. The Reign had several opportunities—they outshot the ‘Birds 15 to 9 in the final twenty—but Nikke Kokko said “no no.” The only Reign goal that made it through in the final period came with less than five minutes remaining.
When the dust settled, the Firebirds had won 6-2 and lived to fight another day.
Game Five will be held Saturday at 6pm in Ontario.
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