Firebirds Win Duel Of Special Teams To Outlast Wranglers, 7-5

If Seattle Kraken management watched Game 3 of the Firebirds-Wranglers AHL playoff series Wednesday at Acrisure Arena, they need to take copious notes about their farm team's power plays - and shred any scribbles about their penalty kill.

Coachella Valley gave up essentially four power play goals, but also scored one shorthanded, adding two 3rd period PP markers of their own to out-offense the Wranglers, 7-5.

Veterans Marian Studenic and Max McCormick paced the Firebirds with two goals each.

Coachella Valley has the opportunity to wrap up the best-of-five 2nd round series at home on Friday.

1st Period

For the third straight game, Coachella Valley's Chris Driedger and Calgary's Dustin Wolf are the opposing netminders.

An electric 42 seconds midway through the stanza turns a 1-0 Firebirds deficit into a 2-1 advantage. First, John Hayden's one-timer from between the circles at 11:20.

Fans at Acrisure Arena barely returned to their seats when Jacob Melanson brings them back to their feet at 12:02. It appears Melanson's bad-angle shot deflects off Calgary defenseman Colton Poolman's stick and knuckles over goalie Wolf's shoulder.

2nd Period

The Wranglers dominated the first part of the period, outshooting Coachella Valley 8-1 in the first six minutes.

One of those found twine, Adam Klapka at 2:55 for a 2-2 tie. Both Calgary goals have been scored on the power play.

While teams are skating 4-on-4, veteran Marian Studenic restores the Firebirds lead, 3-2 at 6:01.

The Firebirds have taken an alarming number of minor penalties in this series. Ryker Evans' trip at 6:25 is already their third of the period, 13th through 2 1/2 games. Evans, a loan from the Seattle Kraken, has been whistled three times in the series.

Firebirds captain Max McCormick hits the post, an inch from doubling the Coachella lead.

Calgary outshoots Coachella Valley 14-11 in the period, 24-21 through 40 minutes.

3rd Period

The Firebirds took a 14th minor, for too many men, late in the 2nd. They have 57 seconds left to kill to start the period.

Technically, Jeremie Poirier's 3-3 tying tally for Calgary isn't a PP goal, because it comes at exactly 57 seconds. But the shot, which may have caught Driedger off guard, again came without five Firebirds defenders in position.

The Firebirds' parade to the penalty box continues, Ryan Winterton whistled for interference at 5:47. This time, both teams score.

First, Studenic's second of the night, shorthanded, gives the Firebirds a short-lived 4-3 lead. Studenic calls his own number on a 2-on-1 at 6:19.

It takes all of 46 seconds for Calgary to re-tie 4-4, scoring officially their third power play goal. Cole Schwindt nabs his series-leading fourth goal at 7:03.

Calgary's Klapka, learning nothing from the Firebirds, takes his own double-minor for high-sticking at 7:54. By the time he exits the box, Coachella Valley has scored on both ends of the power play.

The game's latest go-ahead score belongs to Game 2 OT hero Devin Shore at 8:16. 62 seconds later, captain Max McCormick makes it a six-pack for Coachella and a 6-4 lead.

Tonight, no lead is safe. Jakob Pelltier brings Calgary back within one at 6-5 at 11:44.

Then - stop me if you've heard this before - Coachella Valley takes a penalty when defenseman Ville Ottavainen puts the puck over the glass for a delay of game. Stop the presses: the Firebirds kill the penalty.

(Kids, presses were what was used to print newspapers, and when late-breaking news happened, the presses would be stopped to include the new story. You're welcome.)

McCormick scores into an empty net with 10 seconds left to make the final 7-5 Firebirds. Final shots are 37-36 in favor of the home team.