Firebirds top Gulls, 2-1, to clinch home ice in Western Conference playoffs

The Coachella Valley Firebirds clinched home ice throughout the Western Conference of the Calder Cup Playoffs on Sunday, but it wasn’t one of the usual suspects that got them there.

Instead, it was Jani Nyman, a teenage forward from Finland.

With the score tied with under three minutes to play, the 19-year-old, playing in just his second American Hockey League game, tipped a shot to score the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over the San Diego Gulls. The sold-out crowd of 10,087 inside Acrisure Arena shot to its feet and the arena’s foghorn sounded.

“He’s got a wicked shot,” so he was going to find one anyway,” Firebirds forward Cameron Hughes said. “It’s funny that he got a tipped goal. But he’s been working pretty hard the last week, so everyone was pretty happy for him.”

Firebirds head coach Dan Bylsma said that Nyman has a "goal-scorer's shot" and that he figured his first goal would've come on a one-timer. But a testament to his abilities, Nyman found a way to score, regardless.

"He was at the net for the first part of that shift, begging for a puck to come to the net," Bylsma said. "It was great to see the excitement. I think he likes to score goals. He likes to shoot it into the net, but he got this one on a tip. Glad to see the puck go in for him."

For the game, the Firebirds were 0-for-2 on the power play but 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.

The Firebirds were outshot 30 to 22 yet still found a way to win, with help from Ales Stezka between the pipes. Stezka recorded 29 saves in the game.

The win gives the Firebirds (45-14-6-4) 100 points in the standings. Coachella Valley can match its 48 regular season wins from a year ago by winning all three of its remaining regular season games.

The Firebirds will play Wednesday at home against Tucson, then Saturday at San Diego before next Sunday’s regular season finale against the Gulls. Coachella Valley will then have a first-round bye in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

In addition to securing home ice on Sunday, the game marked the return of rookies Shane Wright, Ryan Winterton and Logan Morrison, who were reassigned by the NHL’s Seattle Kraken.

Bylsma said that clinching home ice through the conference playoffs will likely affect his lineups over the next three games. He said that with a lot of talent on the roster, there will plenty of opportunities for players who play their way into postseason minutes.

At the same time, Bylsma said that he wants to win all three games to boost the team's confidence before a bye that should sideline the team for about a week.

"When everyone's healthy," Bylsma said, "we have a lot of guys. So, a lot of guys need to get ready to play in the playoffs and that means different guys are going to get an opportunity."

The goals

1-0, Gulls: Drew Helleson scored first for the Gulls, just 18 seconds into the second period. It was Helleson’s fourth goal of the season.

1-1: Hughes answered to tie the score at the 5:44 mark of the second period. Hughes wrapped the puck around the back of the net just prior to putting it past San Diego netminder Calle Clang. Jimmy Schuldt and Jacob Melanson assisted on the play.

2-1: Nyman’s goal came with under three minutes to play in the game, on a tip from Connor Carrick. Blueliner Gustav Olofsson also assisted on the play.

Firebirds' player of the game

Nyman gets the nod here. At 6-foot-4, he is big for a forward but could be a player the Firebirds lean on for offense next season. In the meantime, it'll be interesting to see what he can do the rest of this season.

Ice nuggets

Limited tickets available for Wednesday and Sunday: Wednesday's home game will be $5 Beer Night, and Sunday will be Fan Appreciation Night, presented by Acrisure. All fans in attendance will receive a “Thank You Fans!” rally towel and there will be special giveaways throughout the game.

Playoff tickets on sale Tuesday: The Firebirds will host a Party on the Plaza on Tuesday, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. to celebrate the Firebirds’ second consecutive trip to the Calder Cup Playoffs. It is also the first time that playoff tickets will be on sale to the general public. Tickets can be purchased at the event, by visiting Ticketmaster, or by stopping by the Ticketmaster Box Office at Acrisure Arena from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Tuesday or 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

Andrew John covers the Coachella Valley Firebirds for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Firebirds top Gulls, 2-1, to clinch home ice in Western Conference playoffs