Of course Saturday’s Game 5 came down to overtime.
It took extra time and holding off a furious push from the Ontario Reign, but the Coachella Valley Firebirds managed to emerge with a 3-2 overtime win at Toyota Center in Ontario. Firebirds forward J.R. Avon scored the game-winning goal a minute and 47 seconds into double overtime.
The Firebirds staved off elimination from these Calder Cup Playoffs once again.
The series-clinching win moves the Firebirds to the Pacific Division championship series against the Colorado Eagles. The schedule for the next round is set with Game 1 on Wednesday at Acrisure Arena with Game 2 on Friday at Acrisure. Games 3 through 5 will be in Colorado.
But Saturday’s win in Ontario will go down in Firebirds lore, and the winning goal was a beauty as Avon scored on a breakaway with a slick move to get the puck past the Ontario goalie.
Coachella Valley is now 4-0 this postseason when facing elimination. This was the Firebirds’ sixth winner-take-all playoff game in franchise history. They are 5-1 in those games. This was their first winner-take-all road game.
Saturday’s game was as anticipated. It was ugly, mostly defensive, and physical. But the Firebirds seemed to control the game throughout.
Forward Jani Nyman scored first to break a scoreless tie in the first period, on a rebound shot from a Ty Nelson one-timer. Then, after Reign forward Jack Hughes tied the game in the second period, Oscar Fisker Mølgaard gave Coachella Valley its second and final lead of the game on a rebound shot following a Lleyton Roed attempts on the rush.
In desperation, Ontario controlled most of the time of possession in the third period. The Firebirds successfully killed off a penalty, but Ontario eventually found the back of the net on a goal by Andre Lee with 5:23 remaining in regulation.
Avon’s goal came on the rush off a pass by Tyson Jugnauth.
Nikke Kokko finished the game with 34 saves. The Firebirds did not have a single power play opportunity. This was their first win of these playoffs without scoring on the power play.
Several hundred Firebirds fans were in attendance. They did not return home to the desert disappointed.
Pacific Division Finals schedule: Firebirds vs. Colorado Eagles
Firebirds’ winner-take-all playoff games
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Firebirds advance with thrilling double overtime win in Ontario
Reporting by Andrew John, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
