Forwards Jacob Melanson and Oscar Mølgaard returned to the Coachella Valley Firebirds’ lineup on Tuesday, following stints in the NHL, and the pair should boost the team’s offense entering the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Their arrival came following a six-game stretch for the Firebirds that included just nine goals in six games. The Firebirds did not score more than three goals during that stretch. They scored four goals Tuesday, with Melanson and Mølgaard back on the ice.
While the Coachella Valley offense has been shaky, at best, in April, there’s reason to believe that it’ll all change heading into the playoffs next week. With Melanson and Mølgaard, the Firebirds should have four solid lines heading into the postseason.
Logan Morrison, who leads the team with 28 goals this season, recently returned from an injury and gunner Jani Nyman has scored 21 goals in just 38 games this season. Jagger Firkus, who has also scored 21 goals, is practicing and expected to return from an injury for the playoffs.
Seattle Kraken forward Ryan Winterton was eligible to finish the season with the Firebirds, but it appears that he will not after not playing in the Coachella Valley all season. The Kraken finished their season Thursday.
“This is an opportunity for our guys to step up,” Firebirds head coach Derek Laxdal said. “Our job as coaches is to coach who you have that day and we like the group of guys that we’ll have for the playoffs.”
Forwards John Hayden and Cooper Marody each played huge roles in Tuesday’s win. Hayden scored the game-winning goal and Marody added two others. Veteran Mitchell Stephens scored in the two games prior to Tuesday’s win. The three veterans bring leadership and experience to a group that is among the youngest, collectively, in the American Hockey League.
Lleyton Roed, Carson Rehkopf, Eduard Sale and J.R. Avon have each scored at least 10 goals this season and are capable of raising their performance on any given night.
“Playoffs in the valley is super fun,” Roed said. “We had some key guys out, but guys stepped up and we stuck to our systems and now getting some guys back will be huge for us.”
Coachella Valley averaged 3.5 goals over 11 games in March. The Firebirds scored at least four goals in eight of those games. The Pacific Division leading Ontario Reign averaged 2.7 goals per game in March and the top scoring team in the division, the Henderson Silver Knights, averaged 4.3.
With Melanson and Mølgaard playing with the Kraken, and Morrison and Firkus injured, that number dropped sharply in April. But with all four of those forwards back, there’s a reason for excitement.
The Firebirds have allowed the third-fewest goals in the division and have arguably the best goalie duo in the AHL, statistically, in Nikke Kokko and Victor Ostman. Factor in that they now have their full lineup of forwards and there’s rightfully an expectation that the Firebirds shouldn’t have trouble scoring in the postseason.
“This is fun because it’s a younger group,” Hayden said. “We’ve had some success and I think it’s a good challenge and I think we could surprise some people and do better than people expected in the pre-season.”
Andrew John covers the Firebirds for The Desert Sun. Email him at andrew,john@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: With key players back, Firebirds offense looks strong entering playoffs
Reporting by Andrew John, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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