Firebirds sweep Chicago Wolves behind one other Daniel Sprong game-winner – Desert Solar

Daniel Sprong mentioned on Saturday night that he didn’t belong within the American Hockey League, and after two video games it’s troublesome to argue with the person.
On Sunday, for the second time in 24 hours, the longtime NHL veteran scored a game-winning aim for the Coachella Valley Firebirds. This time it was in a 5-2 win over the Chicago Wolves.
On Saturday, in his first AHL recreation since 2018, Sprong scored the game-winning goal in opposition to the Wolves after clearing waivers and basically being demoted from the NHL’s Seattle Kraken.
In two video games with the Firebirds, Sprong has three objectives and an help, and he’s helped Coachella Valley to a 4-1 report for the reason that calendar turned to 2025.
With Jani Nyman and Lleyton Roed every notching three objectives during the last 5 video games, Brandon Biro recording two and 5 others additionally discovering the again of the online throughout that stretch, the surge to start out the brand new yr has been something however a one-man effort.
However Sprong and the return of Czech teenage sensation Eduard Šalé on Sunday was an enormous enhance to a Firebirds offense that was with out captain Max McCormick, who had just lately returned from an damage that stored him out for 3 weeks. Assistant captain John Hayden, who was just lately recalled by the Kraken, was additionally absent.
Ahead Jacob Melanson, who had not performed since Nov. 2 due to an undisclosed damage, returned with Šalé to the lineup on Sunday. Šalé, 19, had not performed since Dec. 18, as he led Czechia to a bronze medal on the earth junior championships.
On Sunday, rookie netminder Nikke Kokko recoded his eleventh win of the season, transferring the 20-year-old’s report to a staggering 11-2-1-0 this season. Kokko completed the sport with 33 saves.
For the sport, the Firebirds have been 2-of-3 on the facility play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
Sprong, a 27-year-old with 363 NHL video games below his belt, is a free agent this summer time and is enjoying for his subsequent NHL contract. It stays unclear if he’ll spend the rest of the season with the Firebirds or if he’ll finally be recalled by the Kraken.
First interval
1-0, Wolves. Aleksi Heimosalmi scored first, on the 9:42 mark of the interval, on a shot that made its manner via a pack of 4 Coachella Valley gamers in entrance of the online.
1-1. Logan Morrison scored his sixth aim of the season on an influence play aim on the 17:28 mark of the interval to even the rating. Morrison rebounded his personal shot and scored on his second try. Brandon Biro and Ben Meyers assisted on the aim.
Second interval
2-1, Wolves. Nick Swaney scored his first aim of the season on the 1:58 mark of the interval to provide Chicago its second lead of the sport.
2-2. On the 7:35 mark, the puck bounced off Brandon Biro on a rebound from a shot by Šalé and located the again of the online to tie the sport as soon as once more.
3-2. Sprong scored only a minute after Biro, on a jaw-dropping shot simply contained in the blue line, to provide the Firebirds their first lead of the sport.
Third interval
4-2. Ben Meyers scored on an influence play on the 4:40 mark of the interval. Morrison and Biro assisted on the play.
5-2. Roed added a uncommon short-handed empty web aim, on an help from his goalie, on the 11:55 mark for good measure.
“The Captain”: You’ve most likely heard concerning the sandwiches at Child’s Marché named after former or present Firebirds’ gamers Chris Driedger, Andrew Poturalski, John Hayden and Gustav Olofsson. The Indian Wells eatery will introduce a “restricted time solely” sandwich named for McCormick this week.
The Captain, it’s referred to as, is a roast beef sandwich with black truffle aioli, provolone cheese, mozzarella, parmesan, lettuce and balsamic glaze, with black truffle shaved on high. Chef Justin Snyder, who owns the store, mentioned that McCormick — a Inexperienced Bay, Wisconsin native — had enter on the sandwich.
“We needed to actually make it pop off with contemporary winter truffles,” Snyder mentioned.
Donate to assist efforts in LA: The Firebirds, via their One Valley Basis, have donated $10,000 to the Los Angeles Hearth Division Basis (LAFDF) within the wake of the wildfires which have ravaged the Los Angeles space. Throughout Sunday’s recreation, the workforce invited any followers keen to assist to donate to the LAFDF.
The Firebirds return to the ice Thursday with a house recreation in opposition to the Henderson Silver Knights. Puck drop is about for 7 p.m.
Andrew John covers the Firebirds for The Desert Solar and the USA TODAY Community. E-mail him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.

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