HERSHEY, Pa. (theahl.com) … John Hayden again Ryan Winterton two points apiece as the Coachella Valley Firebirds opened the 2024 Calder Cup Final with a 4-3 win over the Hershey Bears at the Giant Center on Friday night.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is set for Sunday (5 ET, AHLTV, NHL Network).
Hayden, who scored in the Firebirds' 5-1 win at Milwaukee last Saturday to clinch the Western Conference championship, scored his second shorthanded goal of the postseason to erase a 1-0 Bears lead, then converted late in the game. It was the second period to restore the two-goal cushion after Hershey closed to within 3-2.
Winterton scored his second and third goals of the playoffs. All three came in the last four games after he scored in the Firebirds' ninth outing.
Cameron Hughes again Places to stay in Ottavainen each recorded two assists for the Coachella Valley, as well Chris Driedger gave up 16 shots to improve to 11-2 this postseason.
Joe Snively, Hardy Häman Aktell again Hendrix Lapierre beat the Bears, who lost for just the second time at home this past season (7-2), and are now chasing the playoffs for the first time in 2024.
Hunter Shepard finished with 19 saves.
(Coachella Valley leads 1-0)
Game 1 – Friday, June 14 – Coachella Valley 4, HERSHEY 3
Game 2 – Sun., June 16 – Coachella Valley at Hershey, 5:00 p.m
Game 3 – Tue., June 18 – Hershey at Coachella Valley, 10:00
Game 4 – Thursday, June 20 – Hershey at Coachella Valley, 10:00
*Game 5 – Sat., June 22 – Hershey at Coachella Valley, 9:00
*Game 6 – Mon., June 24 – Coachella Valley at Hershey, 7:00
*Game 7 – Wed., June 26 – Coachella Valley at Hershey, 7:00
*if necessary… All times in Mpumalanga
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