Eagles Drop Game 1 Against Firebirds

LOVELAND, Colo. – In a regular season series that went 2-1-1 in Colorado’s favor, the Eagles will now try to knock out the higher seeded Coachella Valley Firebirds in the postseason. In their inaugural campaign, the Firebirds finished second in the Pacific Division with 103 points, 13 points ahead of the third place Eagles. Some thought the team would struggle in their first year, but Coachella Valley has done an excellent job by finishing near the top of the Pacific.

The Eagles will have a challenge ahead of them as they try to knock out the Firebirds out in the best-of-five series. The first two games will be on Colorado’s home ice. One would think that would give them an advantage, but on Wednesday night, it sure didn’t seem like one.

First Period

In what started as a fast and physical first period, Colorado tried to take control early. Anytime a Firebirds skater went near the boards with the puck, they were shut down immediately. With 11:16 left in the period, Callahan Burke exited the zone and sent a two-line pass across the neutral zone to Mikhail Maltsev. He dipped his shoulder and went for the slot with a backhand shot past goaltender Joey Daccord.

Three minutes later, the Firebirds dominated the puck in the Eagles’ zone. Cameron Hughes had it down low and saw Eddie Wittchow calling for the pass up at the point. Hughes rocketed the pass to Wittchow, who then snapped it past goaltender Justus Annunen. With four minutes left and on the power play, the Firebirds worked around the zone. David Goyette found an open Jimmy Schuldt on the blue line. Schuldt wristed the shot in to make it 2-1 and give Coachella Valley the lead.

Second Period

The physicality continued into the second and throughout the frame with hit after hit. Colorado would have their moments, but would not be able to connect on any chances at all. In fact, Daccord looked relaxed in net for the Firebirds.

Coachella Valley kept the goals coming on the power play midway through the period. Former Eagle Max McCormick worked it around to the half boards to Kole Lind. He tapped it up to Wittchow for the one-timer from the point with Alexander True setting up a screen to allow the puck to make its way past Annunen. The same play would happen with four and half minutes left in the frame, just minus the screen this time. Ryker Evans worked up the half boards and slid it to MacCormick for the one-timer to make it 4-1.

Around The AHL

• Wranglers End Season in Series Loss to Firebirds
• Wranglers Advance, Set To Play Coachella Valley This Week
• Eagles Lose Game 5, Eliminated From Playoffs
• Expanded AHL Playoffs Don’t Quite Pay Off
• Firebirds Tie Series on True’s Shorthanded Stunner

Third Period 

Colorado tried to get rolling early in the third period. The Eagles had some offensive pushes, and finally cracked through with about fourteen minutes left. Sam Malinski tossed the puck over to Mitchell Vande Sompel on the opposite point. Vande Sompel pushed it forward to Maltsev, who held it just long enough for Daccord to drop. Maltsev threw a hard shot on net and in to make it 4-2, cutting the Firebirds lead to two.

Not even a minute later, Coachella Valley worked it down to Colorado’s corner. McCormick saw True open in the slot and slung it right on his stick. True knocked it in while down on one knee to get the lead back up to three goals.

The final goal came with eleven minutes left in the third. Austin Poganski rushed down the right side around Keaton Middleton and centered it to Carsen Twarynski. He would shoot the puck over Annunen’s shoulder to make it 6-2.

Conclusion 

Coachella Valley was able to shut down Colorado pretty well last night. When coach Greg Cronin was asked about the puck being forced to the center he responded:

“They were jumping our neutral zone passes and then they were poking them off our sticks. They were controlling  turnovers and they put it back down into our zone, which is usually our recipe in the second period. They played to win the game and we played a game of hockey.”

Colorado will need to push through the neutral zone a lot harder in Game 2 and make sure to keep the puck away from their defender. The Eagles will try to even the series up at one apiece on Thursday night (7:05pm MT) in Loveland before potentially facing the next three games in Coachella Valley.