Coachella falls 5-1 against Tucson

PALM DESERT, Calif. — Behind Ben McCartney's two goals, the Tucson Roadrunners picked up a decisive 5-1 win over the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

Tucson improved to 5-2 on the season, while Coachella Valley fell to 3-4. Tucson's five wins are the second most in the Pacific Division.

"I'm not getting into it. I'm keeping that to myself," Coachella Valley head coach Derek Laxdal said when asked what isn't working with the group. "There wasn't much. There hasn't been much good lately. You can talk about guys being in and out of the lineup, but that's an opportunity for others to step up. We got some kids that are making the same mistakes night in and night out."

Coachella Valley has lost back-to-back games and fell to a game under .500 on the year.

The first period saw no scoring until the final 30 seconds, when McCartney scored his third goal of the season. Cameron Hebig was credited with the assist, his first of the season.

The Roadrunners took full control of the game in the second period, scoring three of their five goals. Just two minutes in,Tij Iginla scored his first goal of the season. Joshua Roy and Montana Onyebuchi each were credited with an assist.

The score became 3-0 when Austin Poganski scored his second goal of the season. Poganski's shot hit the top of the net and crossed the goal line at the halfway point of the period. Zac Jones notched his fourth assist of the season, and Caleb Desnoyers added his third.

Jones capped off a three-goal period for the Roadrunners at the 14-minute mark, assisted by Robbie Russo and Brandon Tanev. Jones' goal silenced the crowd at Acrisure Arena.

Penalties were a deciding factor against Coachella Valley in the second period, with 19 combined penalty minutes. Nathan Villeneuve was hit with a 10-minute game misconduct penalty after fighting prior to a puck drop.

The second period ended with Tucson holding 24 shots on target, 10 more than Coachella Valley.

It took just 23 seconds into the third period for the Firebirds to score their lone goal. Jagger Firkus scored his third goal of the season with assists from Kaden Hammell and Gustav Olofsson.

Five minutes later, Tucson answered when McCartney scored his second goal of the game. Poganski and Hebig were credited with the assists.

Coachella Valley continues its homestand Friday when it hosts the Henderson Silver Knights. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Acrisure Arena.