Firebirds vs. Wranglers Round 2 Game 4 PREVIEW/GAMETHREAD

The Need To Knows

• The Time: 7pm PT
• The Place: Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert, CA
• What Happened Last Game?: The Firebirds took a lead in the series after playing a 7-5 heater.
• Place to Watch: AHLtv.com, locally on KESQ News Channel 3
• Place to Listen: KDGL 106.9 The Eagle

Know Your Enemy

• Dustin Wolf’s SV% is cratering thanks to Game 3, but will likely remain their starting goalie.
• Calgary provided 5 different scorers last game: Jonathan Aspirot, Adam Klapka, Jeremie Poirier, Cole Schwindt, and Jakob Pelletier. Only one of them; Pelletier, scored at even strength.
• Calgary’s Adam Klapka has come up with 7 points so far in these playoffs; which is tied for third overall in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Game Notes

After the full-bore chaos of Game 3, the Firebirds have the Wranglers right where they want them. At least in theory. A chance to end this series altogether awaits the Firebirds at the end of 60 minutes of regulation playoff hockey.

That of course, is never easy, nor that simple.

The Wranglers played the Firebirds as hard as they ever could; and made mincemeat of their Penalty Kill. Sure, the Wranglers may have gotten some friendly calls, but it still leaves the Firebirds in a state where an otherwise stalwart part of their special teams got pretty badly thumped. If that continues, it will place Coachella in the unenviable position of having to continually battle away from the Wranglers in a game where they will need to claw momentum kicking and screaming out of the Firebirds’ chests. They’ve got the talent to absolutely put CV in a deep hole if they want to, and are now gazing into the abyss. They will be fighting as hard as anyone can to keep their playoff hopes alive.

We already know the foe of the team who wins this series. The Ontario Reign finished up their matchup against the Abbotsford Canucks on Wednesday, and are looking to continue their run of dominance throughout the Calder Cup Playoffs. Dallying will get nobody anywhere in this one; The Firebirds need to put the Wranglers away and get ready for a real tough test just an hour west from Acrisure.

Let’s finish this out right, Coachella! LET’S GO BABY SQUIDS!