Offensive outburst: Firebirds double up Wranglers 6-3 to take series opener
The first game of the Pacific Division finals between the Coachella Valley Firebirds and the Calgary Wranglers did not go according to the script, and that was fine by the Firebirds.
Calgary, featuring goalie Dustin Wolf, the American Hockey League's MVP, had the best record in the AHL, thanks in large part to allowing the fewest goals of any team.
Remarkably, midway through the second period in Thursday's opening game of the best-of-5 series in Calgary, Wolf was pulled from the game after the Firebirds scored their fifth goal. They tacked on one more and the final score was 6-3, as the Firebirds drew first blood in a series that pits the two teams in the AHL with the best records.
The goals came fast and often for the Firebirds, with Luke Henman scoring 1 minute, 48 seconds into the game to set an early tone. Jeremy McKenna, who scored twice in the Firebirds' previous game, stayed hot with a second goal three minutes later and Max McCormick added a third in the first period, which ended with the Firebirds holding a 3-2 lead as the Wranglers kept it close.
But Coachella Valley was relentless, scoring three more in the second period. Kole Lind scored a power-play goal 35 seconds into the second period to make it 4-2. Calgary closed it to 4-3, but Carsen Twarynski netted a goal to make it 5-3 and send Wolf to the showers. The best goalie in the AHL's night was done, and coach Mitch Love replaced him with backup goalie Oscar Dansk.
It didn't help. Lind scored his second power-play goal of the game less than a minute later to give the Firebirds a 6-3 lead which they carried into the third period.
Neither team scored in the third period as Firebirds goalkeeper Joey Daccord got better as the game went on. After allowing two goals in the first period, he only allowed one the rest of the way, while turning away 25 Wrangler shots.
Cameron Hughes didn't score a goal but had a whopping four assists for the Firebirds.
Making the outburst even more surprising was that in each of the previous two games against the Wranglers and Wolf, the Firebirds only managed one goal, losing both times 3-1.
Calgary chose to play the first two games of the best-of-5 series at home and the last three on the road at Acrisure Arena. With the Firebirds stealing Game 1, that means that for Calgary to win the series they will have to win at least two games at Acrisure Arena. The attendance for Thursday's game in Calgary was 4,738. For comparison, the smallest crowd at Acrisure Arena this year was 5,486.
The two teams face off again in less than 24 hours as Game 2 of the series is Friday night in Calgary with a 6:05 p.m. puck drop. The series then moves to the desert for Game 3 on Monday and then Games 4 and 5 on Wednesday and Friday, if necessary.
The team will again host a watch party at Spotlight 29 Casino for any Firebirds fans who want to watch Friday night's game live. About 300 people attended Thursday night's watch party.
The series
Game 1: Coachella Valley 6, Calgary 3; Firebirds lead best-of-5 series 1-0
Game 2: Fri., May 12 - Coachella Valley at Calgary, 6:05 p.m.
Game 3: Mon., May 15 - Calgary at Coachella Valley, 7 p.m.
Game 4: Wed., May 17 - Caglary at Coachella Valley, 7 p.m.
Game 5: Fri., May 19 - Caglary at Coachella Valley, 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: AHL playoffs: Coachella Valley torches Calgary 6-3 in series opener
