The Pacific Division finals kick off tonight in Palm Desert, Calif., as Coachella Valley takes on Colorado in the first game of a best-of-five series (10 p.m. ET, 
).
The Firebirds have won 10 playoff series in their short history and are looking to reach the Western Conference Finals for the third time in four years. The Eagles have not advanced past the conference finals since joining the AHL in the 2018-19 season.
Coachella Valley defeated the division champions from Ontario 3-2 in double overtime in Game 5 on Saturday night. JR AvonAfter scoring 10 goals in 45 games during the regular season, he scored his fourth goal of the series and fifth goal of the playoffs to seal the series. The Firebirds have won four elimination games this postseason, rallying from 1-0 down to defeat Bakersfield in the best-of-three first round before winning their final two games against the Reign.
“There’s a group of guys in the locker room — they don’t want to quit, they want to keep playing, they want to keep moving forward,” Firebirds head coach said Derek Laxdale. “It’s going to make for a great series with Colorado.”
Oscar Fisk Molgaard He led the entire AHL with six goals and 10 points in eight playoff games and had six points in five regular-season games against the Hawks.
“If we play our game, we can beat any team in the league,” he said. “That’s what we have to prove.”
Colorado has outscored opponents 23-7 in six games this postseason. Tristan Nelson (5-2-7), Alex Barre-Bright (3-4-7) and TJ Tynan (2-5-7) tied for the team scoring lead with 7 points each, and Trent Miner (5-1, 1.10, .953) stopped 141 of 148 shots he faced, including Game 1 against San Diego and Henderson.
The two teams met four times during the regular season, with the Eagles winning three of them, losing in shootouts at Acrisure Arena.
