Coachella Valley Firebirds host Game 2

The Coachella Valley Firebirds evened the Pacific Division Finals on Friday night with a 4-0 win over the Colorado Eagles at Acrisure Arena. The American Hockey League said the best-of-five series is now tied 1-1 after Colorado won Game 1 by a 3-0 score on May 13. Coachella Valley scored all four goals in the third period, and goaltender Nikke Kokko finished with a 33-save shutout. Game 3 is scheduled for Sunday in Loveland, Colorado. ### How did Game 2 turn after two scoreless periods? Coachella Valley broke the deadlock early in the third period when J.R. Avon scored the opening goal, according to the AHL and KESQ. The Firebirds then added a second goal less than three minutes later and pulled away with two more in the period. The AHL said Colorado had controlled long stretches of the series through the first five periods, including its shutout in Game 1, before the Firebirds broke through on Friday. KESQ reported that Coachella Valley “came out flying” in the final frame after neither team scored through 40 minutes. ### Who were the key players for Coachella Valley? Nikke Kokko made 33 saves for the shutout, giving the Firebirds the defensive performance they needed after being blanked in the opener, according to KESQ and the AHL. The goaltending line was one of the clearest numbers from Friday’s game. J.R. Avon opened the scoring in the third period, and KESQ identified him as the first Firebirds scorer in the 4-0 win. The AHL’s game report also listed Avon as the player who finally put Coachella Valley ahead after Colorado had kept the hosts off the scoreboard in Game 1. ### What had Colorado done before Friday night? Colorado entered the series after a strong playoff run and had opened the division finals with a 3-0 road win on May 13 at Acrisure Arena, according to the Firebirds’ schedule page and AHL coverage. KESQ reported before Game 2 that the Eagles carried a 6-1 playoff record into Friday night. The Eagles’ own playoff page listed the Pacific Division Finals as a best-of-five matchup with the first two games in the Coachella Valley before the series shifts to Blue Arena in Loveland. Colorado’s schedule page showed the club had won Game 1 and had Game 3 set for Sunday at home. ### What does the series schedule look like now? Sunday, May 17, is the next game date in the series, with Game 3 set for Blue Arena in Loveland, Colorado. The Firebirds’ playoff page lists puck drop at 5 p.m. Pacific time, while the Eagles’ site lists 6:05 p.m. Mountain time. The series format now puts the remaining games in Colorado. The Firebirds’ playoff schedule lists Game 4 for Wednesday, May 20, and Game 5, if necessary, for Friday, May 22, both in Loveland. ### Where can fans verify the result and next game? The AHL published a game report on May 16 saying Coachella Valley “claw[ed] back” and tied the series with a 4-0 victory. KESQ also posted a recap late May 15 reporting the Firebirds’ third-period outburst and Kokko’s shutout. The Coachella Valley Firebirds and Colorado Eagles schedule pages both show the series moving to Colorado for Game 3 on Sunday, May 17, after the split in Palm Desert.