Firebirds Show Defensive Mettle, Down Reign 3-2 In AHL Pac Final Opener

The Coachella Valley Firebirds have run their postseason winning streak to four, taking the opening game of the AHL Pacific Division Finals 3-2 over the Ontario Reign before 7,633 at Acrisure Arena..

In the process, the Seattle Kraken farm team dealt Ontario its first defeat of the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs.

"You've got to anticipate this being a long, drawn out battle," Firebirds coach Dan Bylsma said postgame. "It played out the way we thought it would. There wasn't a lot of offense.

"Maybe we're not known for being a good defensive team. We're known for skill and scoring and speed. But we've taken a lot of pride in our defensive game this year."

After falling behind early, the Firebirds would take a 2-1 lead into the 1st intermission on goals 62 seconds apart by Max McCormick and Devin Shore. It was the 4th playoff goal for both players.

Coachella Valley increased its lead to 3-1 on defenseman Jimmy Schuldt's first at 7:59 of the 2nd period. Schuldt would go on to be named 1st star.

"You've got a lot of guys in front and a lot of guys blocking shots," Schuldt said later about his goal. "You try to miss them and get lucky."

Late in the stanza, the Firebirds got into penalty trouble: Jacob Melanson whistled for interference at 18:21, followed by Ryan Winterton's hook at 19:43.

The home team survived the two-man disadvantage, 17 seconds of which occurred before the horn, and 21 seconds at the start of the 3rd period. However, three seconds after Melanson exited the box, Samuel Fagamo scored a power play goal to bring the Reign within 3-2.

Chris Driedger stood tall to prevent the tying goal, despite Coachella Valley being outshot in the 3rd 14-4, and having to kill a Shane Wright penalty midway through the frame. Driedger, who's played all five games in net for the Firebirds, stopped 29 of 31 shots for the contest.

That doesn't count the many shots which never made it to the goalie, especially with the Firebirds clinging to a one goal lead. Coach Blysma said he counted "Eight or nine blocks in the last six minutes of the game."

Coachella Valley prevailed despite just 15 SOG, and only seven over the final 40 minutes. Cameron Hughes accounted for four of those 15 shots.

Game 2 of the best-of-five 3rd round series comes Friday night in Palm Desert.