ECHL Ontario Reign

Playoff Game Preview - Ontario Reign vs. Idaho Steelheads

Published on April 20, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release


Round 2 Game 2

Arena: Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, CA

Date: Saturday, Apr. 20

Time: 6:00 p.m. (PT)

Video Webcast: America ONE Networks

Audio Webcast: Jesse Liebman - Pre-game show at 5:45 p.m.

TONIGHT:

The Ontario Reign (4-0-1) will face off against their Western Conference rival, Idaho Steelheads (5-1-1) for the second time in Round 2 of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Reign went 4-5-0-0 against the Steelheads this season and were outscored 32 to 29 with both a shutout win and a shutout loss.

Last night the Steelheads got the best of the Reign in overtime after a spirited third period comeback from the Reign who scored two goals in just 55 seconds to force the extra time.

The rivalry ignited last season when their playoff series was pushed to five games in a best-of-five series. The Steelheads rolled the Reign with a 5-0 win and went on to advance to the second round where they lost to the Las Vegas Wranglers 4-1 in the Western Conference Semifinals.

HOW THEY RANK:

By the end of 2012-13 Ontario had earned their 3rd Division Title in just five years, ranked 2nd in the Western Conference, and were tied for 2nd overall in the league with a club record 99 points. The Steelheads came in 2nd in the Mountain Division, 3rd in the Western Conference and finished 6th in the league with 97 points.

COMEBACK KIDS:

In the last three games, the Reign have kept fans on the edge of their seats with late comebacks and in all three games, late first goals. All three of these games were decided in overtime due to goals being scored in the third period. Two of the three games ended with a Reign victory (both 2-1 wins over the Utah Grizzlies), but most recently, the Reign fell 3-2 to the Steelheads; something they did not do in the regular season with only one overtime game which went to the Reign 5-4. This was the Reign's first post-season overtime game played at Citizens Business Bank Arena in team history.

ONE PERIOD, ONE GOAL:

After five playoff contests, Ontario has yet to allow their opposition to score more than one goal in a single period. The Reign's strong penalty killing unit has had something to do with that as they have yet to allow a single power-play goal from the opposition so far during the playoffs.

SEASON SERIES:

10/24: ONT @ IDH....L, 2-7

10/26: ONT @ IDH....L, 2-6

12/8: ONT vs IDH....L, 2-3

12/9: ONT vs IDH....W, 5-4 OT

12/15: ONT vs IDH....W, 6-2

2/16: ONT vs IDH....L, 2-4

3/20: ONT @ IDH....W, 5-3

3/22: ONT @ IDH....L, 0-3

3/23: ONT @ IDH....W, 5-0

2013 PLAYOFFS:

4/2: ONT vs UTA....W, 5-2

4/3: ONT vs UTA....W, 7-2

4/5: ONT at UTA....W, 2-1 OT

4/6: ONT at UTA....W, 2-1 OT

4/19: ONT vs IDH....L, 2-3 OT

4/20: ONT vs IDH

4/24: ONT @ IDH

4/26: ONT @ IDH

4/27: ONT @ IDH if necessary

4/30: ONT vs IDH if necessary

5/1: ONT vs IDH if necessary

STREAKS:

King: 2-game point (1g, 1a)

Couture: 1-game goal (1g)

Sheahan, Brock: 1-game assist (1a)

Lamoureux: 1-game assist (1a)

Hauswirth: 1-game assist (1a)

Berube: 5-game unbeaten (4-0-1)

REIGN TRACKER (ECHL active roster rankings):

Couture: tied for league-lead with +9

Berube: 3rd in league with a 1.69 GAA

Reign are perfect when scoring first

Reign have yet to allow a power-play goal

LEADERS:

Points: Kraemer/Couture 7

Goals: Stretch 5

Assists: Kraemer/Couture 5

+/-: Couture +9

PIM: Calla 15

SOG: Couture 21

NEXT GAME:

The Reign will make the trip to Idaho for Games 3, 4, and potentially 5 starting Wednesday, Apr. 24 at 6:10 p.m. (PT). Fans can catch these games at the Reign watch parties being held at Boston's Restaurant at Fourth and Milliken in Rancho Cucamonga. All three Idaho games begin at 6:10 p.m. (PT) and fans in their Reign gear will get 15 percent off their food purchase.

Check out the Ontario Reign Statistics

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ECHL Stories from April 20, 2013


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