The Firebirds punched their ticket to the Pacific Division finals last night with a double OT spectacular, where forward JR Avon, who has absolutely exploded through these last few games, broke through the Reign’s defense and finally put this series to bed, sending Coachella Valley to the Division finals to face Colorado.
How did they get there?
The Firebirds started this series with a 3-0 shutout in a game Ontario could only say they attended for about 20 minutes; putting up feeble shots on goal through the middle and final periods of the game. In a sign of things to come, JR Avon and Oscar Fisker Mølgaard were the men who led the charge, with some help from Mitchell Stephens and Tyson Jugnauth.
This…would be answered in kind. Ontario absolutely blew the doors off of Coachella in Game 2, and then hung on to beat the Firebirds in Game 3, putting them once again on the brink of elimination. However, just like last series, they absolutely locked in for the series tying game 4 wherein 6 different goalscorers found the back of the net, and of course, brings us to Game 5.
Highlights from the Final Game!
Series Stars
- JR Avon: Of course the man who ended the series would be considered a star here, but it is really the capper of 6 points in 7 games going back to the Bakersfield series that’s made Avon the star of the playoffs. Only matched by…
- Oscar Fisker Mølgaard: Mølgaard does a little bit of everything for the Firebirds, and his 5 points in 5 games; 3 of them being goals, just adds to the postseason he is having.
- Jani Nyman: the big Finn was a little quiet to start the series, but became a point per game player from Game 3 onward, and was instrumental in getting them into this game.
- Nikke Kokko: After that one game stumble, Kokko has been an absolute wall for the Firebirds; giving them a .917 in Game 3, and then only getting better with each game; Game 5 ending with a .944 SV% on 36 shots!
Shots from the Scene!
Our intrepid photographer Jenn was at the all important Game 5, and sort of got drafted on an emergency basis to be the official photographer of the game.
To say she got a helluva game experience would be wildly underselling it.
5/11 UPDATE: More photos have been added!
All Photography provided by @Jennthulhu_Photos on Instagram! Here’s Jani Nyman celebrating his goal! 
Tensions are running high. 
It should be noted that the Firebirds loved being up the Reign’s goaltender’s nose. 
Being a goalie seems like a lot of stress from this angle. 
Not really from this game, but I do love this shot from Game 3. 
Stripes making all sorts of friends. 
Near as I can tell, this is the game winner seconds before it made it. 
Naturally, celebrations were jubilant 
All Photography provided by @Jennthulhu_Photos on Instagram! 
I’d be jazzed too! 
No quit in the Desert.
Thank you so much for this treasure trove, Jenn. We hope you get a good night’s sleep!
What’s next?
The Firebirds take on the Colorado Eagles next; the second-best team in the regular season for the AHL Pacific Division.
Like I said last time; nobody said any of this was easy.
Game 1 of that series begins on Wednesday, May 13th in Coachella Valley.
LET’S GO FIREBIRDS!