Abbotsford, BC- The Krakens’ AHL affiliate Coachella Valley Firebirds face the Abbotsford Canucks on Wednesday in Game 3 of their second-round bout. The teams are currently 1-1 in the best-of-5 series. As they progress through the playoffs, Kraken prospects have taken a leading role in the Firebirds’ continued success. Here are the players to watch in Wednesday’s match-up:
Goaltender Niklas Kokko came seemingly out of nowhere during the 2024 Kraken Dev Camp, earning himself a place with the Firebirds. The 20-year-old Finn has stepped up big since starting goalie Aleš Stezka was sidelined due to injury. Kokko has a .917 save percentage through the playoffs, .913 for the season.
After making a splash during his NHL debut in the final weeks of the 2024-25 season, Jani Nyman returned to Coachella Valley for the playoff run. The 6-foot-4 forward is 2nd in goals scored among AHL rookies. This is Nyman’s first full season in North America, and it would not be surprising to see him take a full time position in Seattle next season.
Drafted in the 2nd Round of the NHL Draft in 2022 (35th overall), Jagger Firkus is known for his speed and technical shooting prowess: the puck often leaves his stick before the goalie even knows he had it. He has amassed 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) so far in his AHL rookie season. While his playoff performance has been lackluster so far, he is a smart player and a difference-maker on the ice.
The Firebirds had a 12-2-0-1 lifetime record against Abbotsford coming into the playoffs. With the series tied, the next two games are crucial as they fight to advance to round 3.
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