Firebirds win first game in franchise history on Sunday afternoon by defeating the Calgary Wranglers by the score of 6-5 in Calgary. Kole Lind (x2), Andrew Poturalski, Michal Kempny, Max McCormick, and Jesper Froden all scored while Joey Daccord stopped 25 in the team’s inaugural victory.
The Firebirds drew first blood at 6:59 of the first period. Ryker Evans put a pass right on the stick of Kole Lind to notch the first goal in franchise history. Cameron Hughes tallied the secondary helper to help give Coachella Valley a 1-0 lead, the only goal of the period.
Coachella Valley scored 4:47 into the second period on an Andrew Poturalski powerplay goal. Just 33 seconds after the Wranglers scored to make it 2-1, Michal Kempny wristed a shot past Calgary netminder Dustin Wolf to put the Firebirds back up by two goals. McCormick and Froden added to the Firebirds totals with goals to put Coachella Valley ahead 5-1. Calgary netted two quick goals towards the end of the second period to cut Coachella Valley’s lead to two.
Less than five minutes into the third period, Kole Lind rushed into the offensive zone on a semi-breakaway and beat Oskar Dansk, who replaced Wolf in the second period, to regain a three-goal lead for the Firebirds. With just under six minutes left, Calgary struck for two goals in 46 seconds to make it a one-goal game. Inside the final two minutes, the Wranglers pulled their netminder for the extra attacker, but the Firebirds held on to win, 6-5.
Coachella Valley’s powerplay finished 1-for-4 and their penalty kill went 4-for-8.
The two teams will rematch tomorrow night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Puck drop is scheduled for 6pm PT.
You must be logged in to post a comment.