Calder Cup: Kole Lind helps deliver the goals in Coachella Valley Firebirds' win

Hundreds of people lined up outside of Acrisure Arena before puck drop for Game 1 of the 2023 Calder Cup Finals — and fans couldn't have asked for a better matchup.

A sold-out crowd of more than 10,000 shuffled into their seats on Thursday night, leaving behind 90-degree temperatures and welcoming the icy breeze felt within the arena. However, the game was anything but as the Firebirds came in hot from the start.

"I think it took all four lines, all 60 minutes to do what we did," Kole Lind said following the game. "I thought overall, as a team, we handled it really well and we worked together."

Lind, a 6-feet-1 right winger, was a standout during the Firebirds' first-ever Calder Cup Finals appearance, notching three primary assists — one per period — helping lead Coachella Valley to a 5-0 win.

More:Dominant debut: Coachella Valley Firebirds blank Hershey Bears in Game 1 of Calder Cup

Lind first dished the puck back to Tye Kartye with around 11 minutes left in the first period, who answered by sniping the puck to the left of Hershey's Hunter Shepard, scoring the Firebirds' first championship goal.

Coachella Valley struggled on the power play during its last series against Milwaukee, at one point going 0-18. However, the streak was snapped during the Firebirds' Game 7 victory over the Admirals on Monday night.

The 24-year-old Saskatoon native came in clutch again in the second period with a similar backhand pass into the slot to center Ville Petman, who responded with Coachella Valley's second goal of the game at 13:06 in the second period.

Lind showed up for the third time for the Firebirds just two minutes into the start of the third period, this time with a drop-off pass to center Andrew Poturalski, who managed to rip the puck past Shepard while simultaneously falling to the ice.

Once Coachella Valley had a dominant three-goal lead over Hershey, the Firebirds pulled even further ahead to ensure a win by scoring back-to-back goals within a minute of each other.

"We want the cup" chants broke out amongst the crowd not long after, as fans spun their white "Let's Go Firebirds" towels in the air.

"It was a great game, a good team effort," Andrew Poturalski said. "It's just one game now and we know we still have to win three more."

On top of his dominance on the offense, Lind also landed a few big hits throughout the game against a physical Bears team. He was named the third star of the game following the team's win due to his on-ice efforts.

Lind was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the second round, No. 33 overall, during the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He was selected in the expansion draft by the Seattle Kraken in 2021.

So far in the playoffs, Lind has posted 26 points (seven goals, 19 assists) in 20 games. In the regular season, he recorded 62 points (30 goals, 32 assists) in 72 games, as well as 91 penalty minutes.

The series between the Coachella Valley Firebirds and the Hershey Bears continues Saturday back at Acrisure Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Firebirds will then head on the road to central Pennsylvania for Games 3 and 4, and stay on the road for Game 5, if necessary.

"They’re a good team. We saw them be a good team tonight," Firebirds head coach Dan Bylsma said. "We can't let this scoreboard and the success that we had in Game 1 dictate how we’re going to come out in Game 2."