John Hayden two points, Chris Driedger made 37 saves and the Coachella Valley Firebirds extended their hitting streak to seven games with a 2-1 win over the Milwaukee Admirals in the opening game of the 2024 Western Conference Finals on Wednesday night.
The Firebirds host Game 2 of the best-of-seven series on Friday.
In a rematch of last year's Western Conference championship series, Coachella Valley scored first at 14:55 of the first half when Hayden caught just one pass. Cameron Hughes former Admirals goaltender Troy Grosenick scoring a power play goal.
The Firebirds held on to a one-goal lead in the third period Zach L'Heureux finally tied the score at 1-1, taking the feed Reid Schaefer and scored his league-leading ninth goal of the postseason at the 5:20 mark.
Hayden got the game-winning tally with 11:11 to play, going to the net and tapping in Devin ShoreIt was his second goal of the night and fourth of the playoffs.
Driedger's 37 saves were a season high. Grosenick stopped 28 of 30 shots in the loss to Milwaukee.
The attendance at Acrisure Arena was 7,413.
(Coachella Valley leads 1-0)
Game 1 – Wed., May 29 – COACHELLA VALLEY 2, Milwaukee 1
Game 2 – Friday, May 31 – Milwaukee at Coachella Valley, 10:00
Game 3 – Tue., June 4 – Coachella Valley at Milwaukee, 8:00
Game 4 – Thursday, June 6 – Coachella Valley at Milwaukee, 8:00 p.m
*Game 5 – Sat., June 8 – Coachella Valley at Milwaukee, 7:00
*Game 6 – Mon., June 10 – Milwaukee at Coachella Valley, 10:00
*Game 7 – Wed., June 12 – Milwaukee at Coachella Valley, 10:00
*if necessary… All times in Mpumalanga
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