Well, they never said it was going to be easy.
Now it’s the Bears who have to go get a win in Coachella Valley.
The Highlights
Game Notes
- Honestly, this was a case of getting goalie’d. The Firebirds absolutely dominated the shot count and also got a good number of the quality shots; Hunter Shepard just played out of his gourd. The Bears didn’t exactly get better at defending (at least until the final five minutes of the game), and the Firebirds weren’t entirely put out in the perimeter, they just got saves that they didn’t last game. If the Firebirds have another game like this at home, the goals will come.
- That said, Firebirds puck management was a little suspect in front of their netminder in the defensive zone. Driedger didn’t have a great night, but a big part of why is that he was more often than not finding himself caught trying to stop 2-on-1’s or not getting the blocks he otherwise would’ve.
- Shane Wright returned! He had an assist on Marian Studenic’s goal, which…had the Firebirds been more stalwart, could’ve been the goal that set up a great comeback; that power move to the net was awesome.
- Neither side tallied a point on the power play, which would’ve been nice, especially at the end of the game. Wasn’t in the cards tonight.
- Maybe it was all that horn honking at Giant Center that threw the Firebirds off their game. Do Eastern Pennsylvanians really need to be roused from their slumber that badly when the Flyers are away?
We’ve got a wait for Game 3, as both Hershey and Coachella Valley need to head out to the Palm Desert area. That game starts on Tuesday night back in the only respectable timezone, at 7pm PT.
We’ll see you then. Keep Calm, and post the Firebird when we win.
DJLR relies on the support of the community to keep the site going and our writers paid. Any donation is appreciated.