Eagles Drop Heartbreaker to Coachella Valley, 2-1

Nov 4, 2026

 

PALM DESERT, CA. – Coachella Valley forward John Hayden buried the game-winning goal with only nine seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Firebirds to a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Eagles on Wednesday. Eagles forward Gavin Brindley scored the team’s lone goal, as Trent Miner suffered the loss in net, allowing two goals on 28 shots. Coachella Valley goaltender Nikke Kokko earned his fourth win of the season, making 27 saves on 28 shots.

After killing off a pair of Coachella Valley power plays, Colorado would utilize some hard work around the crease to score the game’s first goal, as Brindley stuffed home a rebound in the paint to put the Eagles up 1-0 with 2:51 remaining in the first period.

Despite being outshot 10-8 in the opening frame, Colorado would take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Firebirds would level the score just 1:18 into the second period, as forward Eduard Sale collected a pass at the side of the crease and slipped it past Miner, tying the game at 1-1.

Still deadlocked at 1-1 as the puck dropped on the third period, the two teams would exchange chances, while the Eagles also killed off Coachella Valley’s third power play of the night. As time ticked down, a faceoff in the Eagles zone would land on the tape of Hayden who would light the lamp with a wrister from the circle, putting the Firebirds up 2-1 with only 8.8 seconds left in the contest.

Colorado finished the night going 0-for-1 on the power play and a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.

The Eagles will be back in action when they return home to take on the Calgary Wranglers on Friday, November 6th at 7:05pm MT at Blue Arena. Tickets for all Colorado Eagles home games are on sale now and can be purchased at ColoradoEagles.com.