The Coachella Valley Firebirds failed to clinch a playoff berth, at least for now, with a 4-1 road loss to the Henderson Silver Knights on Saturday. The Firebirds have five more regular season games to secure a spot in the upcoming Calder Cup Playoffs, which will begin the week of April 20.
Saturday's loss marked the first time since March 12 that Coachella Valley allowed more than three goals. But it was closer than the final score might indicate.
Following a scoreless first period, Henderson scored a pair of second period goals by Kai Uchacz and Dyson Mayo to take a 2-0 lead. Firebirds forward Ryan Winterton responded by scoring his 18th goal of the season before the second intermission to cut the deficit and bring the game back within reach for Coachella Valley.
But in the third period, Tanner Laczynski scored for Henderson to extend the lead once again, and Raphaël Lavoie added a fourth goal for good measure at the 15:04 mark.
The Firebirds (36-24-2-5) had just one power play opportunity, and came up empty on it. They have been scoreless on the power play in each of their last three games.
Still, Coachella Valley was 3-for-3 on the penalty kill in the game, which brings Coachella Valley to 23-for-26 (88.5%) on the penalty kill over the last nine games.
Firebirds netminder Victor Östman saved 25 shots in the game. It was his first loss in four appearances for Coachella Valley this season.
The Firebirds will return to the ice Wednesday at home against the San Jose Barracuda. It will be the first of a four-game homestand prior to the regular season finale on the road against the San Diego Gulls.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Firebirds fall to Silver Knights, will have to wait to clinch playoffs
