And then there was the Offseason.
The Highlights
Game Notes
- The Firebirds tried, man. Ryan Winterton worked his ass off to make this as close as humanly possible. The Firebirds just didn’t have enough of it to push this to Game 7, and it stinks to say. Over the course of the last five games, the Firebirds stars took the wheel…and the depth just couldn’t keep up. The Bears meanwhile trusted their depth from every corner of the ice, and in these close games…sometimes that’s all it takes.
- I was willing to be kind, but Allyson made a much more poignant remark about Chris Driedger’s performance in this final…and it was succinct, and painful: He finished with a .773 SV% in the elimination game, and up to that point had posted an .858 SV% up to that point. I know Driedger potentially trying to get into the Kraken roster is a pet concept for a number of fans is popular, but I think as the series wore on…I got more comfortable with Daccord/Grubauer over time. The poor guy just didn’t have it to heave the Firebirds into a Game 7 scenario.
- Cale…Buddy….Even if you did end up tying the game…c’mon with that 4th Hershey goal.
- Special teams also helped this elimination along: The Firebirds once again failed to get anything going on the man-advantage, and the first goal the Hershey Bears got was a power play tally off of the Firebirds’ special; score the opening goal, then take a penalty shortly thereafter.
- It sucks, but what a wild ride this was. The Firebirds absolutely stomped out most of the Western Conference and only now ran into a wall. This is how it goes sometimes. We’ll see how the Jagger Firkus/David Goyette version of this team does next year.
What we can learn from this playoff run
- Shane Wright is ready. He’s beyond ready. He led the team in points through the finals with 8 points, and looked absolutely like a man who’s learned all he can from his position in the AHL. While it’s disappointing for him to not get his Calder Cup again, these were some of his finest games professionally to date, and he can shed the Firebirds jersey with pride.
- Ryan Winterton is right behind him. Played like a champion throughout the finals; having 6 goals in 6 games through the finals, and likely will have played his final game in Coachella. He might still have to work for it a bit, but I think he’ll survive the cuts in preseason.
- The Depth of the Firebirds, while it was capable of hanging, badly needs an influx of talent that isn’t reliant on a handful of players like Cam Hughes, Wright, Winterton, McCormick, and John Hayden. Lleyton Roed and Jani Nyman get a pass here as they’re young boys who only recently came into the system, but they need more. What made the Bears good is the depth of their scoring punch, and they couldn’t match it this finals. The good news is…it will come. This team will get better.
- There’s no shame in this loss. Even with the wonky playoff schedule, it is hard as hell to win any trophy in hockey, least of all one you thought for sure you’d win after building a lot of momentum. Just as Edmonton. This team deserves it’s flowers, and will only get more impressive with time.
Thank you all for reading our coverage of the Coachella Valley Firebirds playoff run. I’m disappointed they couldn’t claim vengeance, but I’m excited for the future of the Kraken…and really, I think that’s all I really need to be after watching all of it.
The future is bright. Both in Coachella, and in Seattle.
Stick around for offseason stuff like the Draft, some Draft Profiles about the 2nd/3rd round tomorrow, and free agency. We’d be happy to have you around.
Keep Calm, and Post the Firebird when we win.
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