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Playoff Preview - Ontario Reign at Stockton Thunder

April 18, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL) - Ontario Reign News Release


Round -1 | Game - 1

Arena: Stockton Arena, Stockton, CA

Date: Friday, Apr. 18, 2014

Time: 7:30 p.m. (PT)

Video Broadcast: America ONE Networks

Desktop Player: Jesse Liebman - pre-game show at 7:15 p.m. via America ONE

Mobile Player: Jesse Liebman - pre-game show at 7:15 p.m. vis America ONE

Follow: Facebook - Twitter - #ReignForKelly

Promotion: There is a watch party for tonight's game at Dave & Buster's Ontario Mills Mall (4821 Mills Circle, Ontario, CA 91764). The game starts at 7:30 p.m. but doors will open for this event at 6:30 p.m.

TONIGHT:

The Ontario Reign and Stockton Thunder begin their best-of-seven first round playoff meeting at Stockton Arena. Through the 2013-14 regular season, the Reign held a 10-6-0-0 record over the Thunder and outscored them 47 to 42. Ontario finished first in the shared Pacific Division with 95 points, 21 more than Stockton who finished third in the Pacific.

FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT:

These two teams had more than their fair share of each other this season with 16 regular season match-ups. The original schedule had them playing 14 times, but with San Francisco's early exit, they added two more games to fill in the schedule gaps. A physical game can always be expected when these two face off. During the 2013-14 regular season alone, these two teams combined for 586 penalty minutes - an average of 36 combined infraction minutes per game. With 32 minutes, Derek Couture leads the Reign in that department, on the other bench, Mathieu Coderre-Gagnon leads the Thunder with 45.

LAST TIME WE WERE HERE:

In 2009 the Reign faced the Thunder in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. It was Ontario's first season, first Division Championship, and first taste of the postseason. The series was neck and neck until the very end of the best-of-seven series. There were five one-goal games, including Game seven which ended with a 5-4 final score in favor of the Thunder.

PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE:

After their initial appearance, Ontario was kept out of playoff contention for the next two season until Head Coach Jason Christie brought the team back to the Kelly Cup run in 2012. The Reign had a first round exit in the 2012 Kelly Cup playoffs, and went on to their first-ever second round appearance last season. The Reign fell to the Idaho Steelheads both years; in five games in 2012, six games in 2013. Stockton had their most successful Kelly Cup run last year going to the finals but ultimately falling to the Reading Royals 6-0 in Game 5.

SEASON SERIES:

10/23 - ONT at STK W, 4-2

11/15 - ONT at STK W, 4-1

11/27 - ONT vs STK W, 3-2 SO

11/29 - ONT at STK W, 4-1

12/20 - ONT vs STK W, 3-2 SO

12/21 - ONT at STK W, 3-2

12/22 - ONT vs STK L, 1-5

1/15 - ONT vs STK L, 2-4

1/24 - ONT vs STK L, 1-4

1/26 - ONT at STK W, 5-2

2/5 - ONT vs STK L, 3-6

3/2 - ONT at STK L, 1-3

3/29 - ONT vs STK W, 3-1

4/2 - ONT at STK W, 3-2

4/6 - ONT at STK L, 2-4

4/9 - ONT vs STK W, 5-3

2014 PLAYOFFS

4/18 - ONT at STK

4/19 - ONT at STK

4/22 - ONT vs STK

4/23 - ONT vs STK

4/26 - ONT at STK*

4/27 - ONT vs STK*

4/29 - ONT vs STK*

* if necessary

13-14 REIGN RECORDS:

Current streak: 0-1-0-0

Last 5 games: 2-3-0-0

Last 10 games: 5-3-1-1

In Apr: 2-3-0-0

Home: 21-11-2-2

Away: 23-9-1-2

Vs. Pacific Div.: 28-14-1-1

Vs. Mountain Div.: 16-6-1-2

Vs. Western Conf.: 44-20-2-3

Power play: 40/253 (15.8%)

Penalty kill: 46/311 (85.2%)

REIGN TRACKER:

- Kitsyn - scored his 6th GWG in 5-3 win over STK on 4/9

- Olkinuora - 5-game win streak

RECENT MOVES:

4/16 - ADD Newton (returned from BRI)

4/14 - ADD Jones (signed contract)

4/14 - DEL Cisse (placed on reserve)

4/14 - ADD Malka (activated from reserve)

4/14 - ADD Cisse (activated from IR)

4/14 - DEL Hood (released from contact)

4/11 - DEL Towns (released from contract)

4/9 - ADD Gron (activated from reserve)

NEXT GAME:

The Reign will play Game 2 in Stockton on Saturday, Apr. 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Reign Drops:

If you have watched the Reign earned their fourth Pacific Division title, and fight for a top spot in the Western Conference, you won't want to miss a moment of their journey to the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The first home game is Tuesday, Apr. 22 at 7 p.m. There are two playoff ticket specials offered this year - the Big Mac Pack (four tickets and four Big Macs for $79), and the Hat Trick Pack (two hats, two tickets, free parking for $49). For more information on these packs and other Reign playoff ticket offers visit ontarioreign.com or call 909.941.PUCK (7825) and find the best deal to meet your hockey needs!


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