The Seattle Kraken’s top affiliate, the American Hockey League Coachella Valley Firebirds, beat the Milwaukee Admirals 5-2 on Tuesday night to take a 3-0 lead in the Calder Cup western conference final. The Firebirds are one win away from advancing to the AHL’s final series for the 2nd consecutive season.
The victory was the club’s 9th consecutive in these playoffs. After losing the opening game in Round-one to Calgary, Coachella Valley has reeled off three straight wins against the Wranglers, three more in a Round-two sweep of the Ontario Reign, and three more against Milwaukee. The Firebirds will try to wrap up the series with a sweep on Thursday night in Wisconsin.
Four players who have all seen various amounts of ice time with the Seattle Kraken, Max McCormick, Ryker Evans, Cale Fleury, and Ryan Winterton, all tallied goals for Coachella Valley in the win. 2021 5th-round NHL Draft pick Jacob Melanson rounded out the scoring with an empty netter.
The Firebirds were off to the races after Fleury scored just 31-seconds into the contest. McCormick’s goal gave Coachella Valley a 4-0 lead at 1:34 of the 2nd period and the Admirals bid for a comeback fell well short.
Former Kraken goalie Chris Driedger made 31 saves in notching the win.
