Explosive Second Period Guides Firebirds to Weekend Sweep of Canucks
December 10, 2023 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Coachella Valley Firebirds News Release
The Firebirds defeated the Abbotsford Canucks on Saturday night by the final score of 4-2. Max McCormick, Jaycob Megna, Ville Ottavainen, and Luke Henman scored in the victory to move Coachella Valley to a 10-1-0-0 road record this season.
Coachella Valley opened the scoring in the opening period on a nifty feed from Andrew Poturalski to Max McCormick. Poturalski maneuvered past the Canucks' blueline and found McCormick in the slot to give the Firebirds a 1-0 lead. Cale Fleury earned the secondary assist on the captain's ninth goal of the season. Abbotsford tied the game 25 seconds later on a Linus Karlsson goal and took the lead on a powerplay goal from Sheldon Dries at 17:23.
The second period belonged to the Firebirds, scoring three times and outshooting the Canucks 18-1. Jaycob Megna tied the game with his first goal with Coachella Valley at 5:46 of the middle frame, followed by a go-ahead by Ville Ottavainen for his second of the season. Luke Henman extended the team's lead with a wrist shot from the circle to make it 4-2 at 14:07.
The Firebirds held off the Canucks in the third period to win the game and move to 10-1-0-0 on the road this season and 12-7-1 overall.
Chris Driedger stopped 22 of the 24 shots he saw while Nikita Tolopilo stopped 31 of 35.
The Firebirds powerplay went 0-for-2 and the penalty kill finished the night 3-for-4.
NEXT HOME GAME
The Firebirds rematch against the Canucks on Wednesday night back at Acrisure Arena. Puck drop is set for 7pm PT. Head to Ticketmaster to lock in your seat before it's too late. Don't forget to purchase parking in advance online at ParkWhiz.
American Hockey League Stories from December 10, 2023
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- Griffins End Three-In-Three Weekend with 3-1 Loss to Toronto - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Checkers Take Down League's Top Team 3-1 - Charlotte Checkers
- Wranglers Fall to Moose in OT - Calgary Wranglers
- Game Notes: MB vs CGY - Calgary Wranglers
- Anaheim Ducks Announce Roster Moves - San Diego Gulls
- Lambert Lifts Moose in Overtime - Manitoba Moose
- Crunch Fall to Comets, 4-1 - Syracuse Crunch
- Comets Sweep Weekend with 4-1 Win Versus Crunch - Utica Comets
- Doucet, Tuomisto Reassigned to Grand Rapids, Bliss Recalled by Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Hersheypark Pass Night Game Preview: Bears vs. Checkers, 5 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Roadrunners Rally 4-3 Past Colorado with Three-Goal Third Period - Tucson Roadrunners
- Reign Down Condors, 2-1 - Ontario Reign
- Explosive Second Period Guides Firebirds to Weekend Sweep of Canucks - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Canucks Fall 4-2 on Saturday Night to the Coachella Valley Firebirds - Abbotsford Canucks
- Reign Edge Condors, 2-1 - Bakersfield Condors
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Other Recent Coachella Valley Firebirds Stories
- Firebirds' Season Ends with Loss to Abbotsford Canucks
- Firebirds Fall in Game Three Loss to Canucks, 3-1
- Melanson Scores in Overtime as Firebirds Win Game Two, Tie Series 1-1
- Melanson's Overtime Goal Leads Firebirds Over Canucks in Game Two
- Winterton Scores Lone Goal as Firebirds Fall in Game One
