The Coachella Valley Firebirds overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat the Texas Stars 5-2 on Tuesday night at H-E-B Center. This marks the second consecutive game in which the Firebirds have come back from multiple goals down, securing their 18th win of the season.
Texas opened scoring in the first period with Justin Ertel netting his first goal of the season at 4:16, followed by Antonio Stranges adding another at 11:52. The Firebirds responded midway through the second period when Ian McKinnon scored after a misplay by Stars goaltender Arno Tiefensee. McKinnon has now scored in three of his last four games.
Caden Price tied the game for Coachella Valley with a wrist shot at 10:55 in the third period, assisted by David Goyette and Eduard Sale. Just 45 seconds later, Logan Morrison set up Jani Nyman for his second goal of the season, giving the Firebirds their first lead. In the final minutes, with Texas pulling their goalie for an extra attacker, both Morrison and Nyman scored empty-net goals to secure victory.
Goaltender Victor Ostman made 24 saves on 26 shots, including eight in the third period, earning his seventh win this season. The Firebirds outshot Texas 38-26 and improved their record to 18-12-4-0. Both teams were unsuccessful on their lone power play opportunities.
The three stars of the game were announced as follows:
3.) Justin Ertel (Texas) – Scored his first goal of the season early in the game.
2.) Caden Price (Coachella Valley) – Tied the game with his second career AHL goal and now has eight points this season.
1.) Jani Nyman (Coachella Valley) – Scored what proved to be the game-winning goal and added an empty-netter late in regulation.
“The rookie now has eight points on the season and goals in back-to-back games,” according to team officials about Caden Price’s performance.
Coachella Valley concludes its trip to Texas with rematches against the Stars scheduled for January 13th and January 14th, both starting at 5 p.m. PT.
Fans interested in attending future games can choose from several ticket packages including half-season plans, flex options, and nine-game plans. Details are available through official team channels.
For those seeking upgraded experiences, premium seating is now available after three years of limited access. These club seats offer amenities such as VIP access and inclusive food options throughout Acrisure Arena’s club areas.
The organization also announced new enhancements for fans during home games next season aimed at making attendance more convenient and enjoyable. Updates include advance-purchase parking savings, budget-friendly food choices called Pocket-Friendly Picks, earlier weekday start times, pregame Happy Hour at The Oasis bar area inside Acrisure Arena, among others.
Further information about tickets or upcoming events can be found on the team’s website or by following @Firebirds on social media.
