Calder Cup Game 5 PREVIEW/GAMETHREAD

The Need to Knows

• The Time: 6pm PT
• The Place: Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert, CA
• Place to Watch: NHL Network, AHLtv, FOX11 locally in Coachella
  • Locally: 32 Bar and Grill at Northgate Station if in Seattle
• Place to Listen: 106.9-FM The Eagle

What Happened Last Game?

The Bears roared back into the series after Coachella Valley started slow and sloppy, and eventually got the difference maker on the power play in a 3-2 loss for the Firebirds.

Game Preview

It’s increasingly likely we’ll have to be thinking about a Game 7.

We don’t have to be this way, because the Firebirds can take a dangerous lead tonight.

Last game, the Firebirds’ discipline was tested sorely, and eventually caved under their 8th penalty kill. That my friends, cannot happen again. But a much bigger issue from Game 4 is…well, this.

This is the Calder Cup Playoffs. You’ve been getting 10-11 shots in nearly every period through this run, specifically in the first periods of most of their games. That super cannot happen again.

The keys to winning this one are coming out swinging; they had to play a lot of catch up last game? Well, let’s see the Bears try to do it. Given their history in this department with Coachella, they struggle with that one and badly. If they can do that, shore up their defense, and trust Driedger, I think they could be in a great spot to get within One Game. Also would it kill the Firebirds to not take like 9 penalties in the 2nd period? That would be great.

Should be a fun one! Let’s go Firebirds!