Marián Studenič and Max McCormick each scored a pair of goals and John Hayden, Jacob Melanson and Devin Shore scored the others.
After scoring just a single goal in Game 1 of their best-of-five Pacific Division semifinal playoff series against the Calgary Wranglers, the Coachella Valley Firebirds’ offense came to life on Sunday in Game 2. In Game 3 on Wednesday, the Firebirds’ Offensive firepower reached a new level.
In front of a home crowd of 7,581, Coachella Valley scored a single-game playoff record seven goals in a 7-5 win over the Wranglers to take a 2-1 series lead. Marián Studenič and Max McCormick each scored a pair of goals and John Hayden, Jacob Melanson and Devin Shore scored the others.
Game 4 is Friday inside Acrisure Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 pm
The 12 goals scored between the two teams was also a playoff record for a game involving the Firebirds.
Coachella Valley managed the win despite Calgary scoring three goals on the power play. The Firebirds were just 4-of-7 on the penalty kill, but they scored a short-handed goal and were 2-of-5 on the power play.
The Firebirds have now won two consecutive games after losing Game 1. They’ll look to close out the series Friday. A potential Game 5 would be Sunday.
“We’ve got a 2-1 series lead, which is great,” Shore said. “Both teams are going to reset and we’ve got to do it again on Friday. We can draw the momentum of winning two games in a row but we know that they’re going to come hard. They’re a really good team “
Video: Coachella Valley Firebirds playoff run previewed by Desert Sun sports reporters
Sports reporters Andrew John and Shad Powers discuss this year’s Coachella Valley Firebirds in the postseason.
The goals
1-0, Wranglers. On a power play, Calgary blueliner Jonathan Aspirot scored on a tipped shot at the 5:47 mark of the first period. It was Aspirot’s first goal of the postseason. William Strömgren and Jérémie Poirier assisted on the play.
1-1. John Hayden one-timed a shot from about 12 feet in front of the goal, on a pinpoint pass from Cameron Hughes to tie the game at the 11:20 mark of the first period. It was Hayden’s first goal of the playoffs.
2-1, Firebirds. Less than a minute later, rookie forward Jacob Melanson wrapped the puck around the Wranglers’ net and flicked it over Wolf’s right shoulder for a jaw-dropping goal. Luke Henman and Gustav Olofsson assisted.
2-2. Calgary’s second goal also came on a power play, with Wranglers’ forward Adam Klapka scoring just six seconds after Devin Shore went to the penalty box for interference. Sam Morton and Poirier recorded assists on the play. The Wranglers began the game 2-for-2 on the power play.
3-2, Firebirds. During 4-on-4 action, Marián Studenič gave Coachella Valley the lead back for a second time at the 6:01 mark of the second period. After a faceoff in the offensive zone, Studenič rebounded a Devin Shore shot and pushed it just past Wolf for the score.
3-3. Calgary tied the game 57 seconds into the third period, with a Poirier goal just as time expired on a Wranglers’ power play. Aspirot and Strömgren assisted. It was Poirier’s first goal of the postseason.
4-3, Firebirds. Studenič’s second goal of the game was short-handed, and came on a breakaway following a pass by Hayden at the 6:19 mark of the third period.
4-4. Still on the power play, the Wranglers responded less than a minute later on a goal by forward Cole Schwindt to even score a fifth time.
5-4, Firebirds. Coachella Valley took its fourth lead of the game on Devin Shore’s power play goal at the 8:16 mark of the third period. Cale Fleury and Shane Wright assisted.
6-4. McCormick’s tip goal came on the same power play, at the 9:18 mark of the third period to give the Firebirds a two-goal lead.
6-5. Jakob Pelletier cut the Wrangler’s deficit to a single goal at the 11:44 mark of the third period.
Andrew John covers the Firebirds for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected].
