The Seattle Kraken had a strong start at the beginning of January, but they have since tapered off. However, their American Hockey League affiliate team, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, has had a rocking January and a strong season to boot. So far this month, the Firebirds have recorded a record of 6-2-0. For the season, the Firebirds are in fourth place in the Pacific Division with a record of 21-12-4.
The Kraken might be struggling right now, but the Firebirds are flourishing. Let’s check in and see just how well the Firebirds are doing in their last few games.
Back-to-Back Shutouts
The Firebirds took on the San Diego Gulls on Saturday, Jan. 17, and then hosted the Abbotsford Canucks on Sunday, Jan. 18. Victor Ostman was in net on Saturday, and Jack LaFontaine was in net on Sunday. Both goaltenders recorded shutouts.
Related: 3 Takeaways From the Kraken’s 6-3 Loss to the Penguins
Ostman was exceptional on Saturday, stopping all 28 shots the Gulls took on net. This was Ostman’s eighth start of the season, and he improved to 6-2-0 while recording his first shutout of the season.
Sunday’s game was LaFontaine’s second of the season and his first shutout. Just like Ostman the night before, LaFontaine stopped all 27 shots the Canucks took.
Both Ostman and LaFontaine are backups for starter Nikke Kokko. Kokko’s current record sits at 11-6-3 for the season and has one shutout to his name as well. Both players proved over the weekend that they have what it takes to step up to the plate when Kokko needs a break; they held down the fort while Kokko was the backup, and it resulted in two great shutout wins for Coachella Valley.
Nyman Earns AHL’s First Star of the Week
On Monday, Jani Nyman was named the AHL’s first star of the week, and for good reason. He played four games, scored six goals, and recorded one assist. In three of the four games, he scored two goals. He only just joined the team after the Kraken sent him down to the AHL; he played his first game with the Firebirds on Dec. 31 and made an immediate impact by scoring a goal. In his next game, he recorded an assist, but then went on a three-game pointless streak. He certainly has gotten back on track this week.
Nyman spent the beginning of this season with the Kraken, playing 24 games and recording six points (four goals, two assists). Toward the end of his time with the Kraken, he was often a healthy scratch.
Although Nyman is finding success in the Coachella Valley, hopefully, he can receive a callup and get back to playing with the big club soon. The Kraken could utilize his keen scoring chances at this point in the season.
Firkus Continues to Shine in Coachella Valley
The team and the media call Jagger Firkus the “Firkus Circus”, saying the circus has come to town. However, when you take a look at his performance, there is no indication of any clowning around.
In the past month, Firkus has played in all eight games with the Firebirds and has recorded six assists. In their last game against the Canucks, he recorded two assists. This season, he has played in all 37 games and has recorded 37 points (14 goals and 23 assists). Although he is not actually recording a point per game, he is averaging that thanks to his multi-point nights, like on Jan. 18.
Firkus not only has a point-per-game average, but he also leads the team in points. Logan Morrison sits just under him with 36. The bulk of his points came from assists, which shows he’s finding great scoring chances for other players, including himself. His offensive eye is sharp. Let’s hope Firkus can keep up his performance as the season progresses, and hopefully, when the Firebirds make the postseason.
Firebirds Will Look to Keep Their Win Streak Alive
The Firebirds play their next game on Wednesday, Jan. 21, when they host the San Jose Barracuda. They have already faced the Barracuda twice this season and won both games.
