Coachella Valley Scores Twice on Powerplay in Defeat
The Coachella Valley Firebirds, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Seattle Kraken, fell to the San Diego Gulls on Saturday night at Acrisure Arena by the final score of 6-4. Ben Meyers (PP), Jagger Firkus (PP), and Tucker Robertson each scored in the defeat, Coachella Valley’s second in a row.
QUICK NOTES
- The Gulls opened the scoring as Justin Bailey beat Philipp Grubauer right in front of the goal at 2:12.
- Ben Meyers tied the game on a deflection. The goal was Meyers’ 16thof the season and came on the powerplay. Nik Brouillard and Jani Nyman earned the assists. The helper for Nyman extends his point streak to five straight games.
- San Diego regained the lead with a powerplay goal of their own as Carson Meyer struck to make it 2-1.
- 36 seconds later, a shot from Nikita Nesterenko hit the post, bouncing right to Nathan Gaucher, giving the Gulls a two-goal lead.
- Coachella Valley pulled within a goal on another powerplay goal, this time on a redirection from Jagger Firkus. Firkus’ goal was his 10thof the season and was assisted by Max Lajoie and Cale Fleury.
- Tucker Robertson tied the game for Coachella Valley in the second period. Firkus forced the puck loose and Robertson beat Oscar Dansk at 7:36 for his fifth of the season.
- Judd Caulfield put San Diego ahead just 38 seconds into the third period and a Nikita Nesterenko empty-net goal sealed a 6-4 win for the visiting team.
- Goaltender Philipp Grubauer suffered his first loss as a Firebird, stopping 19 of 23 Gulls shots.
- Coachella Valley’s record falls to 25-17-1-5 on the season.
- The Firebirds finished the game 1-for-2 on the penalty kill and 2-for-2 on the powerplay.
- Coachella Valley outshot San Diego 25-24.
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