The Kraken’s top minor-league affiliate is through two rounds of the American Hockey League postseason, one of which they enjoyed from afar.
Coming out of a first-round bye, the Coachella Valley Firebirds dropped Game 1 against the Calgary Wranglers. Coachella Valley went on to win the next three. Another best-of-five series against the Ontario Reign, affiliate of the L.A. Kings, begins Wednesday.
The Firebirds advanced to the Pacific Division Finals with a 3-0, Game 4 home victory over the Wranglers. A trio of players who appeared in a Kraken jersey last season — Cale Fleury, Shane Wright and Devin Shore — provided the Firebirds’ goals. Logan Morrison and Ryan Winterton, who spent a long stretch with the NHL club at the end of the regular season, each contributed an assist.
Wright, who stands a solid chance of making a permanent jump to the Kraken next season, scored on a short breakaway late in the first period. Seattle’s fourth overall draft pick in 2022 skated up the middle with some distance on his defender, settled and adjusted a pass from teammate Cameron Hughes, then picked a quick, low shot.
NHL journeyman Shore provided insurance in the third period. He’s scored in three straight games, including the overtime winner to tie the series at a game apiece.
Goaltender Chris Driedger stopped all 31 shots he faced. He played each of the four games and allowed 10 goals, registering a .920 save percentage. The Kraken’s expansion draft selection and onetime backup goalie, who spent most of the season in the AHL due to a combination of factors, is due to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Top Kraken defensive prospect Ryker Evans spent the second half of the season with Seattle, but the team made a subtle transaction that allowed him to retain his AHL postseason eligibility. He had three points (one goal, two assists) in the second round for the Firebirds, which tied him for third on the team.
Rookies Wright and Jacob Melanson (2021, 5th round) each had a goal and an assist in the second round. Nineteen-year-old Jani Nyman got into two of the four games. The 2022 second-rounder is playing North American hockey for the first time after coming up through Finland’s Liiga, the country’s top professional league. He got off to a strong start in Coachella Valley, scoring twice in his five regular-season games.
WHL playoffs
Regardless of outcome, a Kraken prospect will be headed to the Memorial Cup to represent the Western Hockey League.
There would be no repeat as the defending champions, the Seattle Thunderbirds, didn’t qualify for the playoffs this year. That opened the door for the Moose Jaw Warriors, overtime winners in Game 7 of the semifinals against the Saskatoon Blades, and the Portland Winterhawks, who finished the Prince George Cougars in six games.
The Warriors feature Kraken 2022 second-round pick Jagger Firkus, who was the WHL’s leading scorer during the regular season. Firkus scored his 12th goal of the playoffs in Game 7 against Saskatoon and is tied with teammate Denton Mateychuk for the league’s playoff scoring lead.
The Winterhawks have defenseman Tyson Jugnauth, taken by Seattle in the fourth round of the same draft. Jugnauth started the season as a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin, but returned to the junior hockey ranks, seeking more ice time. He’s tied for second in WHL playoff scoring among blueliners with 15 points (four goals, 11 assists).
The Warriors grabbed the first win of the best-of-seven series on Friday and Firkus chipped in an assist.
The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times.