Firebirds' 4-2 loss marks their first in team history to the San Diego Gulls
Well, maybe Sunday’s loss did squander the Firebirds’ momentum after all.
On Wednesday, in Coachella Valley's first game since relinquishing a late lead in a shootout loss to the Abbotsford Canucks, the Firebirds fell to the worst team in the American Hockey League.
The 4-2 loss to the San Diego Gulls extends the Firebirds’ losing streak to two games with a pair of road games in Colorado up next. Coachella Valley had won four of five games prior to Sunday's loss, which left players disgusted in the immediate aftermath.
The loss was the Firebirds' first in 10 games all-time against the Gulls. It also was just the fourth of the season on the road for a Coachella Valley (18-11-2-1) squad that had won 12 of 15 away from Acrisure Arena this season.
Forwards Max McCormick and Cameron Hughes scored for the Firebirds. Ales Stezka allowed three goals and the fourth was scored on an empty net in the final moments.
Despite the loss, the Firebirds played the kind of game head coach Dan Bylsma prefers. They outshot the Gulls 36-23 and had four opportunities to score on the power play. But they came up empty all four times and allowed San Diego (10-16-5-0) to find the back of the net of 17% of their shots.
The Firebirds will now travel to Loveland, Colorado to face the Eagles on Friday and Saturday. Puck drop for those two games is set for 6:05 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Firebirds lose to Gulls for first loss to San Diego in team history
