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 tough 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 in entrance of seven,181 inside Acrisure Area.
On Saturday, in his first AHL sport since 2020, 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 within the final two video games he’s helped Coachella Valley (19-12-1-4) prolong its document to 4-1 for the reason that calendar turned to 2025.
The win strikes the Firebirds right into a three-way tie for second place within the AHL’s Pacific Division, with San Jose and Ontario, behind Calgary.
“These are good, significant video games for us to play,” Firebirds head coach Derek Laxdal mentioned. “Groups which might be good — the San Joses, the Cargarys, the Ontarios, they power us to get higher and people video games permit us to get by way of these video games in opposition to Chicago.”
With Jani Nyman and Lleyton Roed every notching three objectives over the past 5 video games, Brandon Biro recording two and 5 others additionally discovering the again of the online throughout that stretch, the surge to begin the brand new 12 months has been something however a one-man effort.
However Sprong has supplied an enormous increase to a Firebirds offense that’s with out assistant captain John Hayden, who was just lately recalled by the Kraken, and captain Max McCormick, who just lately returned from an damage that saved him out for 3 weeks. Laxdal declined to say after the sport if McCormick remains to be nursing an damage or just resting.
Spong’s arrival comes because the Firebirds’ younger roster is taking large steps ahead.
“I believe that we form of bought the models proper now which might be working,” ahead Logan Morrison mentioned. “I believe that each time we go over the boards we’re trying to rating and we’re on the identical web page.”
Ahead Jacob Melanson, who had not performed since Nov. 2 due to an undisclosed damage, returned to the lineup Sunday with Czech teenage sensation Eduard Šalé. Šalé, 19, had not performed since Dec. 18, as he led Czechia to a bronze medal on the earth junior championships. Laxdal mentioned that their return is important.
On Sunday, rookie netminder Nikke Kokko recorded his eleventh win of the season, shifting the 20-year-old’s document 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.
Going again to final month, Coachella Valley has gained six of its final eight video games. It is clear that one thing is working for the Firebirds.
“We’re simply targeted on taking part in our sport, taking part in quick,” Roed mentioned. “I believe we ate them up in transition at present. We speak about construction and the way that is going to feed our offense, and I believe we did that tonight.”
For the foreseeable future, the Firebirds will look to try this with Sprong, a 27-year-old with 363 NHL video games beneath his belt. Sprong is a free agent this summer season and is taking part in 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 method by way of a pack of 4 Coachella Valley gamers in entrance of the online.
1-1. 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 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 internet aim, on an help from his goalie, on the 11:55 mark for good measure.
Biro will get the nod on this one, with a aim and two assists. However with 5 gamers scoring and a robust effort within the internet, this sport was a a whole workforce effort.
“The Captain”: You’ve in all probability heard in regards to 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, by way of their One Valley Basis, have donated $10,000 to the Los Angeles Fireplace Division Basis (LAFDF) within the wake of the wildfires which have ravaged the Los Angeles space. Throughout Sunday’s sport, the workforce invited any followers keen to assist to donate to the LAFDF.
The Firebirds return to the ice Thursday with a house sport 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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