Sports
Firebirds Fall to Colorado Eagles in Game 1 of Pacific Division Finals
The Coachella Valley Firebirds dropped Game 1 of the Pacific Division Finals Thursday night, falling 3-0 to the Colorado Eagles at Acrisure Arena.
The Firebirds struggled to find momentum throughout the night, appearing out of sync offensively and unable to generate enough pressure against Colorado’s physical style of play.
After the game, head coach Derek Laxdal acknowledged his team may have still been emotionally recovering from its dramatic double-overtime Game 5 victory over the Ontario Reign in the previous round.
Laxdal described Colorado as a different challenge altogether, pointing to the Eagles’ size, speed, defensive core, and depth across all four lines. Despite the loss, he emphasized that the series is far from over and expects a stronger effort moving forward.
One bright spot for the Firebirds was the professional debut of Jake O'Brien, the Seattle Kraken first-round draft pick selected eighth overall last year. The 18-year-old joined the lineup for his first American Hockey League playoff appearance.
The Firebirds now look to bounce back in Game 2 Friday night before the series shifts to Colorado for Games 3 and potentially 4.
By: NBC Palm Springs
May 13, 2026
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