Bylsma Back Behind Firebirds Bench For 7th Straight Playoff Victory

Following what he described as a "whirlwind" Seattle visit to be introduced as the new Kraken coach, Dan Bylsma returned to Palm Desert, CA for Wednesday's opener of the AHL Western Conference Finals.

In a rematch from last year's playoffs, the Coachella Valley Firebirds edged the Milwaukee Admirals in Game 1, 2-1.

In contrast to the triple-digit temperatures outside Acrisure Arena, both offenses ran cold - unless your name was John Hayden.

Hayden, who will be an unrestricted free agent at season's end, broke a 1-1 tie at 8:49 of the 3rd period, his second goal of the game.

Goalie Chris Drieger, in net for all eight Coachella playoff games, won his seventh in a row with 37 saves. Emblematic of the night's scoring issues, the Firebirds finished 1-6 on the power play, the Admirals 0-5.

1st Period

Haden broke the ice for the Firebirds on the power play late in the 1st period.

2nd Period

Coachella Valley maintained its 1-0 lead through a scoreless 2nd period. The ice was tilted against them for the first 16 minutes, when Milwaukee dominated SOG, 12-2.

Although failing to score on a late 2nd period power play, Coachella used the man advantage to swing momentum. Over the final 3:46, the Firebirds outshot the Admirals 8-0.

3rd Period

Despite killing consecutive penalties, Coachella lost the lead at 5:20.  Zach L’Heureux's 9th goal of the playoffs tied the score for Milwaukee, 1-1.

L’Heureux's wouldn't get to see the end of the contest, given a game misconduct for "abuse of an official" when whistled for a tripping penalty at 13:37.

By that time, Hayden's second goal had lifted the Firebirds to a 2-1 lead. Watch closely to see Devin Shore not only shimmy past two defenders and feed Hayden in front of the net, but also leap over the fallen goal-scorer like he was barrel jumping.

Milwaukee spent most of the final four minutes with a man advantage. First, the Firebirds had to kill a Ryker Evans hooking penalty. Then they had to stand tall in front of Driedger when the Admirals pulled their goalie in favor of a sixth attacker.

As they have done repeatedly this postseason, Coachella Valley obtained a 3rd period lead and retained it until the final horn.