January 28, 2025: Four-goal outburst in the third – Firebirds top Abbotsford, 5–2
Coming off a three-game skid, Coachella Valley started the week with a resounding home victory over the Abbotsford Canucks. After trailing 2–1 at the end of the second, the Firebirds exploded for four unanswered in the final frame. Nikolas Brouillard tied it up early, before Ben Meyers and Daniel Sprong struck on back-to-back power plays just 38 seconds apart. Jacob Melanson then added insurance, capping off a seven-minute span that flipped the game on its head. Nikke Kokko turned aside 28 shots for the well-earned win.
January 31, 2025: OT magic in Texas – Firebirds rally, 2–1
In a defensive battle on Friday, the Texas Stars grabbed a first-period lead off Matej Blümel’s 20th of the season. The Firebirds stayed patient and found the equalizer in the third when Nikolas Brouillard rifled one past the goaltender, with assists from Logan Morrison and Jani Nyman. Overtime belonged to Coachella Valley, as Ben Meyers sealed the deal at 3:12, burying a feed from Ryan Winterton and Luke Henman to secure the 2–1 triumph. Nikke Kokko made 18 saves in the low-scoring affair.
February 1, 2025: Grubauer debuts, Firebirds edge Stars in OT again, 3–2
Less than 24 hours later, Coachella Valley completed the sweep of Texas in dramatic fashion. Philipp Grubauer, newly assigned from Seattle, made his AHL debut in net and turned aside 27 shots. The Stars jumped out to a 2–0 advantage in the first, but the Firebirds clawed back behind goals from Ben Meyers and Jani Nyman, who leveled the score at 2–2 in the second. Overtime featured more clutch play: Daniel Sprong potted the game-winner just 1:53 in, with assists from Max Lajoie and Meyers, as Coachella Valley earned their third straight win.
State of the Firebirds
After dropping three straight games last week, the Firebirds have stormed back with a trio of victories—two of them decided in overtime. Their renewed offensive spark, paired with timely goaltending (including a strong AHL debut from Grubauer), has propelled Coachella Valley up the standings once again. This bounce-back week underscores the club’s depth, with contributions coming from both regulars and reinforcements alike. If the Firebirds can keep feeding off this momentum, they’ll remain a tough matchup for any Pacific Division foe.
Key performers of the week
- Ben Meyers – Piled up goals and assists in all three games, notching the OT winner in Friday’s matchup and setting up the clincher on Saturday.
- Daniel Sprong – Delivered crucial points in each contest, highlighted by a power-play goal against Abbotsford and the overtime dagger in Saturday’s showdown.
- Philipp Grubauer – In his first AHL appearance, Grubauer turned in a 27-save performance, anchoring the Firebirds’ comeback and proving he’s still a difference-maker in net.