Firebirds score only goal in shootout to edge San Jose 3-2
Devin Shore scored the only goal in the shootout as the Coachella Valley Firebirds earned a 3-2 win on the road at the San Jose Barracuda on Saturday night.
Jimmy Schuldt and Andrew Poturalski scored in regulation for the Firebirds who extended their lead in the Pacific Division standings. The Firebirds are now riding a six-game point streak.
Coachella Valley finished the game with 50 shots on goal to set a franchise record, eclipsing the old mark of 48 set on Nov. 12, 2023 against Tucson.
San Jose struck first just 4:31 into the game on a Scott Sabourin goal as he crashed the net and slid the puck past Coachella Valley netminder Ales Stezka. The two teams combined for 31 shots on goal in the opening period (CV – 16, SJ – 15).
The Firebirds tied the game in the second period on their 30th shot of the game. Jimmy Schuldt let a shot go from the blueline that was deflected in front, beating Georgi Romanov to make it 1-1. Schuldt’s goal was his fourth of the season and was assisted by Kole Lind.
Andrew Poturalski gave the Firebirds their first lead of the game at 12:50 from Cale Fleury and Gustav Olofsson. The goal was Poturalski’s 12th of the season and came on a delayed penalty.
San Jose evened the score at 2-2 when Brandon Coe was sprung on a breakaway inside the final five minutes of the third period and roofed the puck past Stezka. After a five-minute overtime period, the score was still locked at 2-2.
In the shootout, Shore delivered in the first round for the Firebirds while Ales Stezka turned away all three Barracuda attempts to gain Coachella Valley the win and the extra point in the standings.
Stezka finished the game with 30 saves on 32 shots in the victory. The Firebirds finished 0-for-1 on the powerplay and the penalty kill went 1-for-1.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: AHL: Firebirds score only goal in shootout to edge San Jose 3-2
