Firebirds back on track at home, Poturalski lifts Birds over Canucks in OT
The Abbotsford Canucks had two late penalties that allowed the Coachella Valley Firebirds to win their first home game since October, 4-3 (OT), on Wednesday night at Acrisure Arena.
Veteran Andrew Poturalski scored the game-winning goal on a 5-3 power play in OT.
THE OT WINNER FROM POTSY pic.twitter.com/0rGCkoDp6W
— Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) December 14, 2023
Cameron Hughes opened the scoring for the Firebirds just 1:36 into the game. Jacob Melanson and Logan Morrison earned the assists on Hughes’ fifth goal of the season. Abbotsford tied the game at 13:48 on a nice feed from Aidan McDonough to Marc Gatcomb.
The Firebirds regained the lead with a 5-on-3 powerplay goal less than five minutes into the second period. Andrew Poturalski ripped a shot past Arturs Silovs to put Coachella Valley ahead 2-1. The goal was Poturalski’s third of the season and the assists belonged to Shane Wright and Kole Lind.
The Canucks found the tying tally with a powerplay goal of their own thanks to Aatu Raty’s first strike of the game. Raty scored again on the powerplay to give Abbotsford their first lead of the game just 54 seconds into the third period.
Firebirds’ captain Max McCormick tied the game on a wrist shot at 8:27 of the third after a pass from Lind found him down the left win. Melanson was awarded the secondary helper on McCormick’s team-leading 10th goal of the season.
that’s 3 in a row🔥 #LetsFly pic.twitter.com/Idt5nlGp7l
— Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) December 14, 2023
Canucks’ forward Sheldon Dries was issued a five-minute major and a game misconduct for high-sticking Connor Carrick with 57 seconds left in regulation, sending the Firebirds on another powerplay. In overtime, Abbotsford defenseman Christian Wolanin was called for slashing, creating a 5-on-3 powerplay opportunity in the extra session.
Just as the 5-on-3 became a 5-on-4, Andrew Poturalski put the puck past Silovs to end the game at 2:07 of overtime. Cale Fleury and Kole Lind set up the play to defeat Abbotsford for the third straight game.
Jack LaFontaine earned his first win as a Firebird, stopping 28 of the 31 shots along the way while Arturs Silovs made 25 saves for the Canucks.
The Firebirds powerplay went 2-for-10 and the penalty kill finished the night 1-for-3.
Check out our special section on the Coachella Valley Firebirds
See the game’s full box score HERE.
The Coachella Valley Firebirds defeated the Abbotsford Canucks on Saturday night by the final score of 4-2. Max McCormick, Jaycob Megna, Ville Ottavainen, and Luke Henman scored in the victory to move Coachella Valley to a 10-1-0-0 road record this season.
The Firebirds defeated the Abbotsford Canucks on Friday night by the final score of 4-2. Shane Wright scored on a 5-on-3 powerplay halfway through the third period.
Game broadcast this weekend
This Sunday, the Firebirds host the Colorado Eagles. If you can't make it to Acrisure Arena for Sunday's game, you can watch it live on CW5.
It's just one of a dozen local games that the KESQ station group will air throughout the hockey season as official broadcast partner of the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
