Firebirds Bombard Bears 6-2 Behind Wright's Goal & Two Assists, Take 2-1 Calder Cup Final Lead

Walking my dogs in suburban Seattle Tuesday, I spotted the ad copy on a passing transit bus. It read, "When I think of Palm Desert, I think of freeing my mind."

Later Tuesday down in Palm Desert, a sellout crowd at Acrisure Arena had its mind eased by Coachella Valley Firebirds captain Max McCormick (above photo) and a trio of Seattle Kraken prospects.

Led by McCormick's two goals in the first 6:03 and a hat trick empty-netter, CV beat the Hershey Bears 6-2 in Game 3 of the Calder Cup Final, taking a 2-1 series lead.

Kraken prospects also played a huge role; Shane Wright with a goal and two helpers, Lleyton Roed and Ryan Winterton with a goal apiece. Wright has nine points in nine postseason games.

If the Firebirds can win Game 4 and 5 Thursday and Saturday, fans at Acrisure will once again get to see the AHL champion crowned in person - this time the home club. Last year, the visiting Bears won Game 7 of the 2023 Final in overtime.

1st Period

Kraken officials had to be thrilled with Wright's play. He assisted on both of McCormick's 1st period goals, and was an offensive force all night.

"After missing the last series (against Milwaukee with an injury), just getting my legs under me, getting that sharpness back," Wright told Kraken social media.

McCormick's first came on the power play at 2:20. Hershey had been called for delay of game, because the players who started the game weren't the same ones listed on the coach's lineup card.

McCormick's 2nd of the night, 7th of the playoffs, was again assisted by Wright at 6:03.

Bears winger Henrik Rybinski, who scored to narrow the deficit to 2-1, paid the Firebirds crowd a compliment at intermission. "Drowning out the noise is pretty hard to do."

With Hershey bidding for a tie, CV defenseman Jimmy Schuldt expertly diffused a 2-on-1 by intercepting a pass.

2nd Period

The Firebirds two goal lead completely disappeared at 1:29. Alex Limoges' deflection on the power play tied the game 2-2.

(In the 3rd period, Limoges would be injured and needed to be helped off the ice.)

A gaggle of Seattle prospects joined Coachella Valley after their amateur seasons ended. One of those is Lleyton Roed, signed as a free agent out of Bemidji State in late March.

Roed, inserted for Game 3 when Andrew Poturalski suffered an injury, scored his first playoff goal as a pro at 4:06 of the 2nd period in Game 4.

Speaking of Kraken prospects, 2021 3rd round draft pick Ryan Winterton restored the 'Birds two goal cushion with some good hands in close at 16:00. Cameron Hughes, who doesn't have a goal of his own, recorded his AHL-leading 12th assist of the playoffs.

3rd Period

Coachella Valley coach - and Seattle Kraken coach-in-waiting - Dan Bylsma said his team played better in Game 2 than a deceptive-sounding 5-2 loss would indicate. The Firebirds outshot the Bears 34-21.

Similarly, CV dominated SOG in the middle frame of Game 3, 23-6, and 33-15 after two periods.

Twice in the first four minutes of the period, Cale Fleury buried Bears with heavy checks.

At 7:01, Wright wowed the sellout crowd with a burst down the wing, stop, fade to the middle, shot and score. Hershey defender Jake Massie is still wondering where he went. Words don't really do the sequence justice. Watch:

The goal chased Hershey netminder Hunter Shepard, who had made 31 saves in 47 minutes, from the game.

Coachella Valley improves to 7-0 at home in the postseason, 12-3 overall. Two more "W's" and they'll be AHL champions.