For the third consecutive season, the Coachella Valley Firebirds will be heading to the Calder Cup playoffs. Though they posted a 1–2 record this past week, the points earned were enough to secure another postseason berth. With top scorer Jani Nyman returning from a brief NHL stint, Coachella Valley hopes his reintegration will spark a deep run, after consecutive heartbreaks in the Finals. Here’s how the action played out:
Wednesday: Colorado grounds Coachella (3–1 Loss)
Back on home ice, the Firebirds struggled to generate offense against the Eagles. A late first-period goal by Jayson Megna gave Colorado the early edge, and they extended the lead in the second courtesy of Devante Stephens. Eduard Šalé got Coachella Valley on the board with a third-period marker—set up by Ian McKinnon and Mitchell Stephens—cutting the deficit to 2–1. However, Colorado sealed the victory with an empty-netter at 19:13. Despite 17 saves from Nikke Kokko, the Firebirds couldn’t pull even, dropping the opener of the three-game slate.
Friday: Brouillard’s brace lifts Firebirds over Henderson (3–1 Win)
Hitting the road for a back-to-back in Henderson, Coachella Valley rebounded in style. After the Silver Knights scored first at 15:08 of the opening frame, Nikolas Brouillard took charge with two goals in a span of just 38 seconds—both coming late in the period—to flip the script. The Firebirds’ lead ballooned to 3–1 when David Goyette sniped one at 18:32 of the second, courtesy of Max Lajoie and Mitchell Stephens. No one found the net in the final stanza, enabling Coachella Valley to cruise to the 3–1 triumph. Nikke Kokko turned away 18 of 19 shots, backstopping a timely bounce-back performance.
Saturday: Henderson returns favor, 4–1
Less than 24 hours later, the Silver Knights got their revenge, stifling the Firebirds’ offense in a 4–1 victory. Henderson struck twice in the second period—goals from Kai Uchacz and Dysin Mayo—and never relinquished control. Ryan Winterton attempted to rally Coachella Valley with a late second-period marker, assisted by David Goyette and Charlie Wright, but Henderson added two more in the third to secure the convincing win. Victor Östman made 25 saves in net, but the Firebirds were unable to replicate the balanced attack that had fueled them the night before.
State of the Firebirds
Despite the uneven results, Coachella Valley officially clinched its third straight playoff berth, keeping alive hopes for a long-awaited Calder Cup. After two straight trips to the Finals fell short, the Firebirds see a chance for redemption, particularly with Jani Nyman returning to the lineup. Reinforcing the offense and shoring up defensive lapses will be pivotal as Coachella Valley navigates the final stretch of the regular season. With only a handful of games left, the focus is on polishing special teams, establishing solid goaltending rotations, and ensuring everyone meshes well—especially with Nyman’s reintroduction.
Key Performers of the Week
- Nikolas Brouillard – Provided a huge spark in Friday’s win with two rapid-fire goals, showcasing offensive instincts from the blue line.
- Eduard Šalé – Tallied the lone Coachella Valley goal in Wednesday’s loss, demonstrating his potential for timely finishing.
- Ryan Winterton – Notched a goal in Saturday’s defeat and chipped in an assist on Friday, continuing to drive secondary scoring.
A Calder Cup run won’t come easily, but with another postseason trip locked in and reinforcements arriving, the Firebirds have plenty of reason for optimism as they press forward toward the playoffs.