The Calgary Wranglers ride for an American Hockey League championship came to a screeching halt Saturday night. The Coachella Valley Firebirds eliminated the Flames affiliate in a 2-0 decision, closing out the best-of-three first-round series in a sweep that matched the Game 2 result at Acrisure Arena in Thousand Palms, Calif. The Wranglers were shut
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The Calgary Wranglers ride for an American Hockey League championship came to a screeching halt Saturday night.
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The Coachella Valley Firebirds eliminated the Flames affiliate in a 2-0 decision, closing out the best-of-three first-round series in a sweep that matched the Game 2 result at Acrisure Arena in Thousand Palms, Calif.
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The Wranglers were shut out on the evening, thanks to a 23-save by Firebirds goaltender Nikke Kokko.
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Wranglers goalie Waltteri Ignatjew wasn’t too shabby himself, stopping 18 pucks fired at him by the ’Birds.
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But it was Mitchell Stephens beating him 15:22 into the second period. The Firebirds forward’s third of the post-season ended up being the game-winner.
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Teammate John Hayden scored his second of the playoffs into an empty net for insurance with just 17 seconds left in the contest.
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The Firebirds now advance in the Calder Cup Playoffs to meet the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL’s Pacific Division semifinal series.
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And the Wranglers head home for the off-season after a successful 37-28-4-3 regular season.
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