Carsen Twarynski scores late game-winning goal to help Firebirds escape with 2-1 win over Gulls

Much of the Coachella Valley Firebirds’ roster was back on the ice Friday, but for the second consecutive game the Firebirds didn't seem to be the juggernaut that won 13 of 14 games during a recent stretch.

That run, which earned Coachella Valley the best record in the American Hockey League, came to an end with a loss on Jan. 28. On Friday the Firebirds narrowly avoided consecutive losses in a 2-1 win over the San Diego Gulls in front of a crowd of around 7,800 inside Acrisure Arena.

With just 1:31 remaining, Firebirds forward Carsen Twarynski scored the game-winning goal on his third second rebound shot to prevent what could have been been Coachella Valley's first losing streak since Dec. 13.

"I was just trying to get my stick on the puck," Twarynski said. "I was in a good spot to keep firing, and luckily was in a good spot to do that."

While the win was not a dominant performance, it was further evidence that Coachella Valley (29-7-3-1) continues to find ways to win in close games.

The game marked the return of star forwards John Hayden and team captain Max McCormick, the AHL player of the week for the week ending Jan. 22. The two were each on a stint with the Firebirds’ NHL affiliate, the Seattle Kraken for last week’s loss to the Wild.

Also missing for that game was center Andrew Poturalski, who also did not dress Friday with what has been described as a lower leg injury. No further details have been disclosed, and Firebirds head coach Dan Bylsma declined to provide an update after the game, other than to say, "It's a serious one."

With Hayden, McCormick and goaltender Joey Daccord in the lineup Friday, it was supposed to be back to business as usual against the Gulls, the last-place team in the Pacific Division.

But after defenseman Ryker Evans scored the first goal just four minutes into the game, the Firebirds were drawn into a scrappy, physical game that at times felt more like a brawl. There were 15 penalties in the game and going from power plays to penalty kills appeared to throw Coachella Valley off its offensive rhythm.

Daccord and Bylsma each emphasized after the game that the offense is not going to be humming every night, and when the inevitable slower nights come, good teams have to find other ways to win.

"Sometimes we're going to score four or five goals and win that way," said Daccord, who finished the game with 28 saves in the net and is now 18-5-1-3 as a starter this season. "Sometimes we have to score just one more than them and it's 2-1. Just another good win. I'm happy we found a way."

There were stretches throughout the game when it felt like the Firebirds might not. But as this team has done so many times before this season, they've somehow emerged with a late goal to claim a victory. On Dec. 23 it was Luke Henman who came up with the late goal. One Jan. 10, it was Kole Lind in a shootout. On Jan. 13, it was McCormick in overtime.

On Friday, Twarynski took his turn playing the hero.

"It's a massive adrenaline rush," Twarynski said. "Those are the games that are fun to go into. The ones that are tight and chippy and there's a lot of emotion going into it. So, to score a big goal like that, it's exciting, whether I'm on the bench or in the stands watching. It's exciting for everybody."

The goals

1-0, Firebirds: Evans got Coachella Valley on the board first, on an assist from Tye Kartye and Brogan Rafferty just 4:01 into the game. The goal was the fourth of the season for Evans.

1-1: Hunter Drew tied the game six minutes later, with his fifth goal of the season. The score came on assists from Glenn Gawdin and Michael Del Zotto.

2-1: Twarynski found himself with the puck about five feet from the net and fired it past Gulls goaltender Lukas Dostal. Alexander True and Lind assisted on the goal.

Firebirds' player of the game

Twarynski, a 25-year-old left winger from Calgary, gets the nod here. His game-winning goal was his eighth of the season and his first in 10 games, dating back to a Jan. 7 home game versus the San Jose Barracuda.

Ice nuggets

McCormick added to All-Star Classic: Firebirds forward Max McCormick has been selected to represent the AHL’s Pacific Division in Laval, Quebec on Sunday, Feb. 5 and 6 for the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic as an injury replacement for teammate Andrew Poturalski, who is not available to participate. Poturalski was injured Jan. 26 in a game versus the Iowa Wild.

The AHL All-Star Classic includes the AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Feb. 5 and the AHL All-Star Challenge on Feb. 6.

The event also includes the AHL Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony, featuring the Hall of Fame inductions of David Andrews, Keith Aucoin, Nolan Baumgartner, Dave Creighton and Bill Torrey.

Next game

Saturday: The Firebirds will return to the ice Saturday in another game versus the Gulls. Puck drop is 5 p.m. at Acrisure Arena.

Following Saturday’s game, the Firebirds will head to San Diego to face the Gulls on Friday for a third consecutive time.

Andrew John covers sports in the Coachella Valley for The Desert Sun. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Carsen Twarynski scores late game-winning goal in 2-1 Firebirds win