Wright's 3-Point Night Leads Firebirds Past Reign 5-3 In Game 2 Of Div. Final

Above Photo: Shane Wright (51) and Jani Nyman (12) celebrate Nyman's 1st period power play goal, giving the Firebirds a 3-0 lead over the Ontario Reign.

Though Coachella Valley had won four of their first five Calder Cup playoff games this season, forward Shane Wright had been relatively quiet offensively.

In Game 2 of the AHL Pacific Division Finals at Acrisure Arena, Wright cranked the volume up to 11.

Led by Wright's goal and two assists, the Firebirds cruised by the Ontario Reign, 5-3. Coachella Valley leads the best-of-five 3rd round series 2-0, and can advance with a victory at Sunday's Game 3 in Ontario.

Four minutes into the 3rd period, Wright absorbed an illegal center ice hit with the puck at least two zip codes away. Ontario's Hayden Hodgson, who had scored 15 seconds earlier to narrow the deficit to 4-2, received a 5-minute major and was ejected.

Wright was slow to rise, and left the Firebirds bench before the end of the period.

This game was decided in the 1st period, when Coachella Valley played the role of the bull, and Ontario the china shop. The Firebirds outshot the Reign 12-7, outscored them 3-0, and Ontario could barely get out of its own way, taking four minor penalties.

Seattle Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans, getting extra playing time with the Firebirds, assisted on John Hayden's opening goal at 1:57. (In the 3rd period, Hayden would execute a beauty of a hip check.)

Wright, a virtual lock to join Evans in Seattle next season, earned the first of two 1st period helpers on Cale Fleury's marker at 11:15 making it 2-0 Firebirds.

Right wing Jani Nyman, a Kraken 2022 2nd round draft choice, made his trip all the way from Sweden count with his first of the postseason at 14:21. Nyman, who impressed with his Swedish team despite not turning 20 until next month, signed a three-year entry level contract last June.

The Firebirds knew a 2nd period Reign pushback was coming, and it did. Ontario took eight of the first 10 SOG, including one that went in by Kevin Connauton at 5:34.

Wright restored equilibrium for the home team, with his second goal of the playoffs at 10:47. 2021 3rd round Kraken draftee Ryan Winterton did a lot of the heavy lifting and picked up an assist.

One second after the 3rd period major to the Reign expired, Fleury scored his 2nd of the night on a long-range slapper at 8:16.

Two Ontario power play goals got the visitors within 5-3. The Reign pulled their goalie with just under four minutes to go, but could draw no closer. Firebirds goalie Chris Driedger, now 5-1 in the postseason, stopped 32 of 35 Ontario shots - 16 of 18 in the 3rd period.

8,682 watched the Firebirds run their playoff winning streak to five.