Firebirds' road magic goes Poof! Coachella Valley falls to Henderson 5-1
The Coachella Valley Firebirds took their remarkable 10-1 road record to Henderson on Wednesday night and the Silver Knights were not interested in being the latest home victim.
Henderson topped the Firebirds 5-1 to put an emphatic stop to Coachella Valley's six-game road winning streak, handing the Firebirds their first road loss in more than a month. Coincidentally, the Silver Knights are responsible for both of the Firebirds' road losses this year, also beating the Firebirds 5-4 on Nov. 15.
The lone Firebirds goal Wednesday night was scored by defenseman Connor Carrick during a power play as he knocked home a loose puck for his third goal of the season late in the second period to cut the Coachella Valley deficit to 2-1, but Henderson scored three times in the third period to pull away.
The Firebirds, who were without Kole Lind who was called up by the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, lost their second game in a row and have struggled to find offense of late. They were shut out 1-0 on Sunday by Colorado.
Goalkeeper Jack LaFontaine started in goal but was replaced due to an injury 8:31 into the game with the score 0-0 by backup Cale Morris. No details on LaFontaine's injury were revealed.
The Firebirds are already thin at goal as Chris Driedger was called up to the Kraken and Ales Stezka is still sidelined with an upper-body injury. Morris, who made his Firebirds debut Sunday, stopped 20 of 24 shots and took the loss.
Next game is sold out
The Firebirds (14-9-1-0) return home Saturday for the annual Teddy Bear Toss game and it has been deemed a sellout according to the team's social media on Wednesday. The Firebirds host Bakersfield in a game that begins at 6 p.m. Fans are encouraged to bring a Teddy Bear or two ... or seven to throw out on the ice when the Firebirds score their first goal. It is also Ugly Sweater Night and the first 6,500 fans will receive a head coach Dan Bylsma holiday bobblehead.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Firebirds' road magic goes Poof! Coachella Valley falls to Henderson 5-1
