Meyers Nets Goal with Four Minutes Left in Regulation to Sweep Weekend Series Against Abbotsford
The Coachella Valley Firebirds, proud American Hockey League affiliate of the Seattle Kraken, defeated the Abbotsford Canucks on Sunday at Rogers Forum by the final score of 2-1. J.R Avon tied the game for Coachella Valley with a shorthanded goal and Ben Meyers struck with 4:03 left in the third period to give the Firebirds their third straight victory.
Following a scoreless first period, the Canucks opened the scoring at 3:09 of the second period. Ben Berard swatted a loose puck through Victor Ostman to put Abbotsford on the board. The Firebirds went to the penalty kill as Jagger Firkus was called for tripping, putting Coachella Valley down a skater. Jacob Melanson stole the puck from his own blue line and started a 2-on-1 rush. Melanson fed J.R. Avon to tie the game. The goal was Avon’s sixth of the season and the third shorthanded goal the Firebirds’ have netted this year.
With the clock winding down in the third period, John Hayden pushed the puck up ice while taking a hit and Jacob Melanson moved into the offensive zone. Melanson found Ben Meyers at the top of the circle, who fired a shot past Aku Koskenvuo to put Coachella Valley on top with 4:03 left in regulation. The goal was Meyers’ ninth of the season and extended his point streak to nine straight games.
The Firebirds held on for the 2-1 victory, improving the team’s record to 12-6-3-0 on the season.
Coachella Valley finished the game 0-for-4 on the powerplay and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. The Firebirds outshot the Canucks 27-26. Victor Ostman made 25 saves to secure his fourth win of the year.
FIREBIRDS OPEN CANADIAN ROAD TRIP WITH SHOOTOUT WIN OVER CANUCKS
Coachella Valley Opens Four Game Swing with Comeback Victory Over Abbotsford
The Coachella Valley Firebirds, proud American Hockey League affiliate of the Seattle Kraken, defeated the Abbotsford Canucks on Saturday night at Rogers Forum in a shootout final score of 4-3. Jagger Firkus recorded a three-point game as Coachella Valley climbed back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period to earn their second straight shootout win.
The two teams exchanged powerplay goals in the opening period. Nils Aman sent the teddy bears flying in Abbotsford as he cashed in on a Canucks’ man-advantage to put Abbotsford out to a 1-0 lead at 9:16. The Firebirds evened the score on the powerplay as Jagger Firkus netted his tenth goal of the season. Oscar Molgaard’s backhand pass set up Firkus, who extended his road game point streak to eight in a row. Ben Meyers earned the secondary assist to move his point streak to eight straight. Former Firebird Jimmy Schuldt regained the lead for the Canucks just 14 seconds later.
Mackenzie MacEachern extended the Canucks lead to 3-1 just 3:31 into the second period as he moved in on a partial breakaway and beat Nikke Kokko.
Jagger Firkus scored his second goal of the game just 1:22 into the third period after J.R. Avon’s shot went off the pad of goaltender Jiri Patera. The Firebirds held the Canucks without a shot for the period’s first 17 minutes. Down by one goal with 1:34 left in regulation, Ben Meyers took a wrist shot between the circles that beat Patera to tie the game at 3-3. Tyson Jugnauth and Jagger Firkus each recorded assists on Meyers’ ninth goal of the season.
The five-minute overtime ended after a flurry of highlight-reel saves from Patera on four Coachella Valley shots. The game needed a shootout was needed to decide a winner. Logan Morrison and J.R. Avon each scored in the shootout and Nikke Kokko stopped two of three Canucks shooters to earn the Firebirds the extra point.
Coachella Valley finished the game 1-for-4 on the powerplay and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill. The Firebirds outshot the Canucks 46-19, their highest shot performance of the season
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