Playoff Preview - Ontario Reign vs. Colorado Eagles - Game 1
April 16, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release
Colorado Eagles at Ontario Reign
Pacific Division Semifinals | Game 1
Arena: Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, Calif.
Date: Thursday, Apr. 16, 2015
Time: 7:00 p.m. (PDT)
Watch: ECHL.TV, powered by NeuLion
Listen: Spreaker - Pre-game show starts at 6:45 p.m.
Follow: Facebook - Twitter - #ReignTrain
NOTE TO FANS: The ticket for tonight's game is printed as "Round 1 Game A." CLICK HERE to purchase tickets for this game.
TONIGHT:
The Ontario Reign and Colorado Eagles begin their best-of-seven Pacific Division Semifinals matchup. This is the first-ever postseason meeting between Ontario and Colorado; the Eagles won the regular season series with a 7-5-0-1 record. Ontario is 21-10-5-1 all-time in regular season play against Colorado.
FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT:
Ontario and Colorado faced each other 13 times during the regular season, but have not played since a late February homestand, with player movement taking place between both teams. Most recently, both teams have had players return from AHL stints: defenseman Collin Bowman is back with the Eagles after spending some time with the Iowa Wild, while goaltender Joe Cannata returned to the Reign earlier this week.
SPECIAL TEAMS GLANCE:
Colorado comes into this matchup with a slight edge over Ontario in both special teams categories, converting on 19.7% of their power plays while Ontario scores on 18% of their chances. On the flip side, Colorado kills north of 82% of their opponents' man advantages, with Ontario killing 83.7% of theirs.
CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE PRESENT:
The Reign loaded up on players with a winning pedigree this season. Judd Blackwater captured a Memorial Cup with the Spokane Chiefs in 2007-08 with teammate David Rutherford, who also won a CHL championship in 2010-11 and a Kelly Cup in 2011-12 against Blackwater and Jeff May. Garry Nunn also won a Kelly Cup with Alaska in 2010-11. And of course, Reign head coach Jason Christie completed his playing career by assisting on the Cup-winning goal for Peoria in 1999-2000.
14-15 HEAD-to-HEAD
11/26 - ONT at COL W, 4-3
11/28 - ONT at COL L, 0-3
11/29 - ONT at COL L, 1-2
12/05 - ONT vs COL W, 5-3
12/06 - ONT vs COL W, 5-3
12/19 - ONT vs COL L, 3-4 OT
12/20 - ONT vs COL W, 6-1
12/21 - ONT vs COL L, 2-5
02/06 - ONT at COL L, 1-3
02/07 - ONT at COL W, 5-4 SO
02/08 - ONT at COL L, 2-3 OT
02/20 - ONT vs COL W, 3-2
02/22 - ONT vs COL L, 5-6 SO
2015 PLAYOFFS
4/16 - ONT vs COL
4/17 - ONT vs COL
4/19 - ONT at COL
4/22 - ONT at COL
4/24 - ONT at COL*
4/27 - ONT vs COL
*
4/28 - ONT vs COL*
* if necessary
REIGN TRACKER: -
14-15 REIGN RECORDS (REGULAR SEASON):
Current streak: 1-0-0-0
Last 5 games: 3-1-0-1
Last 10 games: 7-2-0-1
In Apr: 4-1-0-1
Home: 22-9-2-3
Away: 21-10-2-4
Vs. Pacific Div.: 42-18-4-6
Vs. Central Div.: 1-1-0-0
Vs. Western Conf.: 43-19-4-6
Power play: 49/272 (18.0%)
Penalty kill: 51/313 (83.7%)
RECENT MOVES:
04/14 - ADD O'Rourke (added to playoff roster)
03/27 - ADD Carzo (returned from Norfolk [AHL])
03/27 - DEL Couture (placed on reserve)
03/27 - DEL Fiddler (placed on 21-day IR)
03/25 - ADD Bigos (activated from reserve)
03/25 - ADD Kopitar (activated from injured reserve)
03/25 - DEL May (placed on reserve)
03/22 - ADD Couture (activated from reserve)
03/22 - DEL Fiddler (placed on reserve)
03/20 - ADD D. Brown (activated from reserve)
03/20 - DEL Bigos (placed on reserve)
03/19 - DEL Cannata (reassigned to Utica [AHL] by Vancouver [NHL])
NEXT GAME:
The Reign will host Game 2 of the Pacific Division Semifinals against the Colorado Eagles on Friday, Apr. 17 at 7:00 p.m.
Reign Drops :
The Ontario Reign continue their Pacific Division Semifinals series against the Colorado Eagles with Game 2 scheduled for Friday, Apr. 17 at 7 p.m. at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Playoff tickets are on sale now and start at just $12. Tickets can be purchased online at AXS.com, or by visiting the Citizens Business Bank Arena box office. Fans can also purchase discounted playoff ticket plans and group tickets by calling the Reign front office at (90 9) 941-PUCK (7825). For more information, visit ontarioreign.com/tickets/playoff.
Become a Reign Season Ticket Member today! Season tickets for the 2015-16 season - Ontario's first as a member of the American Hockey League and the primary developmental affiliate of the LA Kings - are on sale now. All Season Ticket Members also receive free parking, ticket exchange, account manager access, an invitation to an exclusive Season Ticket Member event, guaranteed giveaways (one per account) and more.
Season ticket packages start as low as $340, and include payment options for your convenience. For more information on Reign season tickets - along with a comprehensive list of Season Ticket Member benefits - please call 909-941-PUCK (7825) to select and purchase your 2015-16 season seats today!
Visit us at ontarioreign.com, follow the team @OntarioReign and visit ontarioreign.com/ahl for additional information. And be sure to listen to all home games and select road matches for free via Spreaker.
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