Shane Wright Absent From Game 3 Of Coachella Valley AHL Series With Ontario

Coachella Valley Firebirds forward Shane Wright didn't play in Sunday's Game 3 of the AHL Pacific Division Final against the Ontario Reign.

The Firebirds, as of this writing, haven't explained the specific reason for Wright's absence.

In Friday's Game 2, the Seattle Kraken 4th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft took a hard - and illegal - hit from Ontario's Hayden Hodgson. As you can see from the AHL-TV screengrab, Wright had no reason to expect contact from Hodgson, 3:15 into the 3rd period at Acrisure Arena.

By the time of the contact (top arrow), the puck is completely across the width of the ice surface (bottom arrow). Hodgson received a major interference penalty and ejection. Later, the AHL tacked on a two game suspension.

For his part, Wright was slow to return to his feet. He skated a power play shift after the collision, but left the Firebirds bench prior to the conclusion of the 5-3 Coachella Valley victory.

Wright had been an offensive engine in that win, scoring one goal and adding two assists.