Firebirds Open Second Round with 6-2 Win Over Eagles
The Firebirds defeated the Colorado Eagles in game one by a score of 6-2 to take a 1-0 series lead in the second round of the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs. Eddie Wittchow netted two goals while Firebirds’ captain Max McCormick had a three-point night in Coachella Valley’s victory in Colorado.
Mikhail Maltsev opened the scoring and gained a 1-0 lead for the Eagles at the 8:44 mark of the first period. Eddie Wittchow responded for the Firebirds with his first of the postseason as he came down the left wing and wristed a shot past Justus Annunen to make it 1-1. Cameron Hughes and Jeremy McKenna earned the assists at 11:09.
The Firebirds took their first lead of the game on a powerplay goal from Jimmy Schuldt after a cross-checking penalty to the Eagles’ Cedric Pare. McKenna moved the puck to David Goyette who spun a pass to Schuldt at the blueline to make it 2-1 at 16:05.
Coachella Valley added two goals in the second period including Wittchow’s second of the game (Lind, McCormick – 6:38) and shot from McCormick (Evans, Tennyson – 15:31) that found its way past Annunen. The Firebirds held a 4-1 lead heading into the third period.
Maltsev netted his second of the game to pull Colorado back within two but a quick response from Alexander True regained Coachella Valley’s three-goal cushion. True’s second of the postseason was assisted by McCormick and Lind just 55 seconds after the Maltsev goal.
Carsen Twarynski buried a feed from Austin Poganski to cap off the scoring and make it 6-2. Ville Petman was awarded the secondary assist at 8:58, less than two minutes after True’s strike.
Joey Daccord made 25 saves in the victory that gave the Firebirds a 1-0 series lead. Coachella Valley’s powerplay finished 1-for-3 and the penalty kill went 1-for-1.
Read the game’s full box score HERE.
Tickets are available for games three, four, and five of the second round of the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs through Ticketmaster and at the Acrisure Arena box office. Individual game tickets begin at just $19 and groups of 10 or more start at only $18.
Season tickets for the Firebirds’ 2023-24 campaign are on sale now! For a full list of benefits and more information on Season Ticket Memberships for the 2023-24 season, click HERE or call 760-835-8778.