Firebirds drop third straight game after falling 4-3 to San Diego Gulls
COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley Firebirds lost to the San Diego Gulls 4-3 on Friday night in the final game of their five-game homestand.
With the loss, Coachella Valley has now dropped three straight games.
The Firebirds were the first on the board for the night with a goal by Carson Rehkopf at 0:28 for 1-0. The Gulls followed shortly in the first period at 10:12 on a power-play goal from Stian Solberg. That power play was in effect due to a holding penalty on Firebirds Ty Nelson.
"I thought we scored the first goal, we had good energy and then we kind of from that point on, we took some penalties," Firebirds head coach Derek Laxdal said.
The second period was all San Diego as they brought in two more goals. The first came from Judd Caulfield at 9:48 and then Yegor Sidorov at 19:50 on a power play.
"Our penalty kill gave up two power play goals, and then you're right at the end of a penalty kill," Laxdal said. "So that's two games in a row [with] four power play goals. You're not going to win any games like that. So we got to we're trying to tighten up there, and kids are just making mistakes."
San Diego was able to capitalize on more opportunities for shots in the second period, and show their accuracy. The Gulls had 17 shots on goal in the second period, compared to just nine from the Firebirds.
Into the third period, Coachella Valley picked up more momentum offensively, leading shots on goal, by one, with 13. At 5:11 Ty Nelson netted one with no assists for 3-2, and at 14:50 Jani Nyman came in to tie the game 3-3 on a power play.
Despite the Firebirds comeback, the Gulls Sidorov netted one last goal at 18:11.
"I thought we dominated the third period and we didn't quit," Laxdal said. "We battled back to 3-3, and it sucks to give up that late goal and not get that point."
The Firebirds will now head to Toyota Arena to play the Ontario Reign on Sunday, Feb. 1. It's the start of a four-game road trip for Coachella Valley.
Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage of the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
