Live-Blogging: 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs-Western Conference Finals-Game 1-Milwaukee Admirals at Coachella Valley Firebirds

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2024 Calder Cup Playoffs-Western Conference Finals-Game 1-Milwaukee Admirals at Coachella Valley Firebirds

Announcers: Evan Pivnick, Grant Fuhr

Game 1 Location: Acrisure Arena, Palm Desert, CA

Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on Professional Ice Hockey’. Tonight, it is Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, in the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. Between Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators AHL Affiliate) and the Coachella Valley Firebirds (Seattle Kraken Affiliate).

This is a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals. Where the Firebirds defeated the Admirals in 6 games. The Firebirds don’t have Joey Daccord in net, because he is on the Kraken Roster. But Chris Driedger is picking up where Daccord left off. The Firebirds are 4 wins away from returning to the Calder Cup Finals.

For the Admirals, they are going into this series, having more playoff games than the Firebirds. While Coachella Valley lost only one game, the Admirals had to go the distance in both Central Division Series to get to the WCF.

Unlike the Firebirds, the Admirals haven’t found their ride or die at goaltender. They went between Troy Grosenick or Yaroslav Askarov. Who will be Milwaukee’s goaltender, Tonight? We’ll find out soon.

Milwaukee is led by Zach L’Heureux in goals and points. While Max McCormick & Devin Shore lead Coachella Valley in goals and points. While Andrew Poturalski & Cameron Hughes lead the Firebirds in assists.

The Admirals have a playoff goal differential of +3, compared to the Firebirds +7. Milwaukee converted 18.92% of their power plays into goals. While Coachella converted 20.83% of their power plays. For penalty killing, Admirals have killed 77.5% of their penalties. While the Firebirds kill 75% of their penalties.

It is the Milwaukee Admirals and the Coachella Valley Firebirds. In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Game 1 will begin shortly.

Previous Starting Lineups:
Milwaukee Admirals:
Forwards-Svechkov, Tomasino, Wiesblatt
Defense-Gravel, McKeown
Goalkeeper-Troy Grosenick

Coachella Valley Firebirds:
Forwards-Lind, McCormick, Potrulaski
Defense-Fluery, Olofsson
Goalkeeper-Chris Driedger

Admirals are in their white . While the Firebirds are in their black uniforms. 

1st Period:
20:00: Admirals win faceoff, center ice. Milwaukee to defend the right net. While Coachella to defend the left net.
19:48: Admirals win faceoff. Right Red Dot of Milwaukee's Blue Line.
19:40: PENALTY: Reid Schaefer called 2-minutes for high-sticking. Firebirds Power Play.
19:40: Coachella wins faceoff. Left Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
17:40: Admirals back to full strength.
16:47: Del Gaizo's shot saved by Driedger.
16:43: Admirals win faceoff. Right Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
15:32: Carrick's shot saved by Grosenick.
15:11: Schuldt's shot saved by Grosenick.
15:11: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
13:51: Melanson's shot saved by Grosenick.
13:43: Tomasino's shot saved by Driedger.
13:36: Tomasino's shot saved by Driedger.
13:36: Media Timeout #1: MIL 0, CV 0

Oilers Leading Stars 4-2, in Game 4

13:36: Admirals win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
13:22: PENALTY: Jasper Weatherby called 2-minutes for tripping. Firebirds Power Play.
13:22: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
12:33: Gravel's shot saved by Driedger.
11:22: Admirals back to full strength.
10:53: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
10:10: Tomasino's shot saved by Driedger.
10:10: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
9:39: Admirals called for icing.
9:39: Admirals win faceoff. Left Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
9:10: Lind's shot saved by Grosenick. 
8:45: PENALTY: Marian Studenic called 2-minutes for high-sticking. Admirals Power Play.
8:45: Media Timeout #2: MIL 0, CV 0

Last June, I Live-Blogged Firebirds Western Conference Championship Victory Over Admirals

8:45: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
8:28: Svechkov's shot saved by Driedger.
8:10: Kemell's shot saved by Driedger.
8:10: Admirals win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
7:57: Winterton's shot saved by 
7:42: Gross' shot saved by Driedger.
7:14: Afanasyev's shot saved by Driedger.
6:24: McCormick's shot saved by Grosenick.
6:17: McCormick's shot saved by Grosenick.
6:17: Admirals win faceoff. Left Red Dot of Coachella's Blue Line.
6:07: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
6:01: Carrick's shot saved by Grosenick.
5:36: Carrick's shot saved by Grosenick.
5:36: PENALTY: Roland McKeown called 2-minutes for cross-checking. Firebirds Power Play.
5:36: Media Timeout #3: MIL 0, CV 0


​5:36; Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
5:05: POWER PLAY GOAL: John Hayden scored a PPG, for the Firebirds. MIL 0, CV 1
5:05: Firebirds win faceoff, center ice.
3:14: Admirals win faceoff. Left Red Dot of Milwaukee's Blue Line.
2:53: Shore's shot saved by Grosenick.
2:53: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
1:48: Tomasino's shot saved by Driedger.
1:48: Admirals win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
1:31: Del Gaizo's shot glove saved by Driedger.
1:31: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
:58: McCormick's shot saved by Grosenick.
:58: Admirals win faceoff. Right Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
:42: PENALTY: Jasper Weatherby (MIL) & Marian Studenic (CV) called 2-minutes each for roughing. 4-on-4 Hockey.
:42: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Red Dot of Coachella's Blue Line.
:04: Foudy's shot saved by Driedger.
:00: The End of 1st Period. 1:18 left on 4-on-4 Hockey, when play resumes.

1st Intermission:
MIL 0, CV 1

1st Period Scoring:
14:55: John Hayden (CV) PPG

1st Intermission Thoughts:
Both teams got scoring opportunities. But the Firebirds got on the board, with a PPG from John Hayden.

Business Links 05/28/2024

2nd Period:
20:00: 4-on-4 Hockey for 1:18, to start the 2nd Period. 
20:00: Firebirds win faceoff, center ice. Coachella to defend the right net. While Milwaukee to defend the left net.
19:40: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Red Dot of Milwaukee's Blue Line.
19:25: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Red Dot of Milwaukee's Blue Line.
18:42: Both teams back to full strength.
18:21: Kemell's shot saved by Driedger.
18:10: L'Heureux's shot saved by Driedger.
17:28: Admirals win faceoff. Left Red Dot of Milwaukee's Blue Line.
17:09: Ottavainnen's shot saved by Grosenick.
17:09: Admirals win faceoff. Left Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
16:51: O'Reilly's shot saved by Driedger.
15:35: Gross' shot saved by Driedger.
15:34: Tomasino's shot glove saved by Driedger.
15:34: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
15:03: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
14:48: Admirals win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
14:21: Admirals win faceoff. Left Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
13:33: Foudy's shot saved by Driedger.
13:33: Foudy's shot saved by Driedger.
13:33: Media Timeout #4: MIL 0, CV 1

Earlier This Month, I Live-Blogged Firebirds 3-2 Series Clincher Against the Reign in Ontario, CA

​13:33: Admirals win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
13:22: Gross' shot saved by Driedger.
11:41: Ottavainen's shot saved by Grosenick.
9:57: Gravel's shot saved by Driedger.
9:57: Media Timeout #5: MIL 0, CV 1

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9:57: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
9:15: PENALTY: Ozzy Wiesblatt called 2-minutes for high-sticking. Firebirds Power Play. 
9:15: Admirals win faceoff. Right Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
9:02; O'Reilly's shot saved by Driedger.
8:32: Afanasyev's shot saved by Driedger.
7:15: Admirals back to full strength.
5:50: Svechkov's shot saved by Driedger.
5:39: PENALTY: Reid Schaefer called 2-minutes for roughing. Firebirds Power Play.
5:39: Media Timeout #6: MIL 0, CV 1

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​5:39: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
3:44: Hayden's shot saved by Grosenick.
3:39: Admirals back to full strength.
3:26: Carrick's shot saved by Grosenick.
3:26: Admirals win faceoff. Right Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
2:46: Henman's shot saved by Grosenick.
2:08: Ottavainen's shot saved by Grosenick.
1:53: Schuldt's shot saved by Grosenick.
1:30: Admirals win faceoff. Right Red Dot of Milwaukee's Blue Line.
1:24: Admirals win faceoff. Right Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
1:16: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
1:03: Shore's shot saved by Grosenick.
:48: Hayden's shot glove saved by Grosenick.
:48: Admirals win faceoff. Right Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
:10: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
:03: Schuldt's shot saved by Grosenick.
:03: PENALTY: Jani Nyman called 2-minutes for roughing. Admirals Power Play.
:00: The End of 2nd Period. 1:57 left on the Nyman Penalty/Admirals Power Play.

2nd Intermission:
MIL 0, CV 1

2nd Intermission Thoughts:
Firebirds had a couple of power plays. But couldn't cash them in as goals. For the Admirals, they are outshooting the Firebirds 24-22, but have a goose egg through 40 minutes.

1:57 left on the Nyman Penalty/Admirals Power Play.

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​
3rd Period:
20:00: Admirals have 1:57 left on a Power Play, from a Nyman roughing penalty.
20:00: Firebirds win faceoff, center ice. Coachella to defend the left net. While Milwaukee to defend the right net.
19:42: PENALTY: Ryan Winterton called 2-minutes for tripping. Admirals on 5-on-3 Power Play.
19:42: Admirals win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
19:26: Wiesblatt's shot saved by Driedger.
19:07: Afanasyev's shot saved by Driedger.
18:34: Svechkov's shot saved by Driedger.
18:04: Admirals win faceoff. Right Red Dot of Coachella's Blue Line.
18:03: Firebirds down a man.
17:42: Firebirds back to full strength.
17:25: Shore's shot saved by Grosenick.
16:20: Carrick's shot saved by Grosenick.
15:19: Henman's shot saved by Grosenick.
14:40: GOAL: Zach L'Heureux scored a goal, for the Admirals. MIL 1, CV 1
14:40: Admirals win faceoff, center ice.
13:42: Media Timeout #7: MIL 1, CV 1

​13:42: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Red Dot of Milwaukee's Zone.
13:15: Winterton's shot saved by Grosenick.
11:53: Afanasyev's shot saved by Driedger.
11:53: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
11:11: GOAL: John Hayden scored a brace goal, for the Firebirds. MIL 1, CV 2
11:11: Firebirds win faceoff, center ice.
10:52: Ufko's shot saved by Dreidger.
10:25: Foudy's  shot saved by Driedger.
10:13: Wiesblatt's shot saved by Driedger.
10:13: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
10:04: Admirals win faceoff, center ice.
8:36: Parssinen's shot saved by Driedger.
7:26: Media Timeout #8: MIL 1, CV 2

7:26: Admirals win faceoff, center ice.
7:05: Wiesblatt's shot saved by Driedger.
6:53: Poturalski's shot saved by Grosenick.
6:23: PENALTIES: Zach L'Heureux called 2-minutes for tripping. L'Heureux gets a 10-minute misconduct and a 10-minute game misconduct. Firebirds Power Play.
6:23: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Milwaukee's Zone.
5:54: Shore's shot saved by Grosenick.
5:50: Hayden's shot saved by Grosenick.
4:23: Admirals back to full strength.
4:02: PENALTY: Ryker Evans called 2-minutes for hooking. Admirals Power Play.
4:02: Media Timeout #9: MIL 1, CV 2

​4:02: Admirals win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
2:31: Tomasino's shot saved by Driedger.
2:10: Afanasyev's shot saved by Driedger.
2:02: Firebirds return to full strength.
1:54: Ufko's shot saved by Driedger.
1:25: Svechkov's shot saved by Driedger.
1:25: ADMIRALS TIMEOUT #1: MIL 1, CV 2
1:25: Admirals win faceoff. Left Circle of Coachella's Zone.
1:25: Admirals have an extra attacker/empty net.
1:00: Firebirds win faceoff. Left Red Dot of Coachella's Blue Line.
:47: Firebirds called for icing.
:47: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
:39: Firebirds called for icing. 
:39: Firebirds win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
:31: Firebirds called for icing.
:31: Admirals win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
:05: PENALTY: Andrew Poturalski called 2-minutes for hooking. Admirals Power Play.
:05: Admirals win faceoff. Right Circle of Coachella's Zone.
:00: The End of Game 1.

Final:
MIL 1, CV 2

Coachella Valley Firebirds lead WCF, 1-0.

Final Stats:
SOG: MIL 38, CV 30
PP: MIL 0/5, CV 1/6
PIM: MIL 34 min/9 in; CV 12 min/6 in

3 Stars of the Game:
1st: John Hayden (CV) 2 G
2nd: Chris Driedger (CV) 37/38, .974 SV%, 1.00 GAA
3rd: Troy Grosenick (MIL) 28/30, .933 SV%, 2.03 GAA


Final Thoughts:
A hard fought battle, for both teams. Both goaltenders were outstanding. But John Hayden found the back of the net twice, to give the Firebirds a 1-0 series lead.

For the Admirals, they were unable to score off the power play. While the Firebirds did, with Hayden's 1st goal, in the 1st Period.

Same two teams, Friday Night in Palm Desert. 

This is Paul Shishkoff, Junior. This has been 'Live-Blogging Shish on Professional Ice Hockey'. Thanks for visiting this post.