Playoff Game Preview - Ontario Reign at Idaho Steelheads
April 26, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release
Round 2 Game 4
Arena: CenturyLink Arena, Boise, ID
Date: Friday, Apr. 26
Time: 6:10 p.m. (PT)
Video Webcast: America ONE Networks
Audio Webcast: Jesse Liebman - Pre-game show at 5:50 p.m.
TONIGHT:
The Ontario Reign (6-0-1) are looking to take a 3-1 series lead over their Western Conference rival, Idaho Steelheads (5-3-1) for Game 4 of the second round 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.
The Reign earned their first-ever playoff shutout when JF Berube stopped 19 Steelheads shots and his teammates beat both Steelheads goalies Tyler Beskorowany and Josh Robinson five times to tie their largest margin of victory of this playoff season.
JOURNEY TO THE KELLY CUP:
In seven games, the Reign have yet to be denied a point with six regulation wins and one overtime loss. Ontario ranks first in the league with 12 points, is the only team to have earned at least one point in every game, and has a perfect penalty kill going 23 for 23. JF Berube has stood on his head during the playoffs helping the Reign have the fewest goals-against of any team with just 1.43 per game. Ontario is among four other teams that have a perfect record when scoring first, and lead the league in goals-against with only 1.43 in seven playoff appearances.
REIGN GOALS-FOR HISTORY:
In the Reign's first year they earned a playoff berth into the first round but fell to the Stockton Thunder, who are currently leading their series against the Alaska Aces 2-1, in a best-of-seven series. The Reign outscored the Thunder 28-27 but couldn't get the fourth win.
In the 2012 Kelly Cup Playoffs, Ontario went to Game 5 in a best-of-five series against Idaho but lost. The series scoring favored the Steelheads 18-12. This year, the Reign have a lead on the Steelheads in games won and scoring with a 2-1 series lead and a 9-4 goal lead. In Round 1, the Reign outscored the Utah Grizzlies 16-6 with the series sweep.
THIRD PERIOD TALLIES:
Against the Steelheads, the Reign have scored six of their nine goals in the final frame; in two of their three games, those third period goals have been comebacks for the Reign to either tie or win in regulation. Last game, Ontario trailed 1-0 for the first two periods and an early third period goal from Van de Mosselaer tied the game. Lamoureux scored what would be the game-winning goal with less than five minutes left in regulation.
FIVE FIRST-TIMERS:
Through the Idaho series, five Reign skaters have scored their first goals of the post-season. Van de Mosselaer, Calla, King, Lamoureux, and Burt all earned their first tallies of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The goals for all but D.J. King were the players' first-ever professional, playoff goals.
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....W, 5-0
4/24: ONT @ IDH....W, 2-1
4/26: ONT @ IDH
4/27: ONT @ IDH
4/30: ONT vs IDH if necessary
5/1: ONT vs IDH if necessary
STREAKS:
Couture: 3-game point (1g,2a)
Lamoureux: 3-game point (3g,1a)
Calla: 2-game point (1g,2a)
Van de Mosselaer: 1-game goal (1g)
Estrada: 1-game assist.
Berube: 7-game unbeaten (6-0-1)
REIGN TRACKER (ECHL active roster rankings):
Couture: Leads league with +11
Berube: 1st with 0.944 sv%, 2nd in ECHL with 1.37 GAA
Ebert: Leads Reign in rookie scoring (2g,5a=7), 7 pts from tying all-time playoff rookie scoring record (Holloway 5g,9a=14)
LEADERS:
Points: Couture 9
Goals: Stretch 5, several active players are tied at 2
Assists: Couture 7
+/-: Couture +11
PIM: Calla 22
SOG: Couture 25
NEXT GAME:
Game 5 will be played Saturday, Apr. 27 at 6:10 p.m. (PT) 7:10 p.m. (MT) at CenturyLink Arena in Idaho. Fans can catch the game tonight and on Saturday at the Reign watch parties being held at Boston's Restaurant at Fourth and Milliken in Rancho Cucamonga. All Idaho games begin at 6:10 p.m. (PT) and fans in their Reign gear will get 15 percent off their food purchase.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from April 26, 2013
- Reign Silenced by Steelheads 6-0 in Game 4 - Ontario Reign
- Idaho Knots up Series with 6-0 Win - Idaho Steelheads
- Reading Evens Series with 3-2 Overtime Win in Game 4 - Florida Everblades
- Royals Even Series with Dramatic OT Win in Florida, 3-2 - Reading Royals
- Gladiators Even Series with 4-2 Win in Game 4 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Gladiators Even Series, Win 4-2 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Mike Madill Named General Manager and Head Coach of the Wranglers - Las Vegas Wranglers
- ECHL Transactions - April 26 - ECHL
- ECHL Announces Fine, Suspension - ECHL
- Game 4 Preview: Stockton Thunder vs. Alaska Aces - Stockton Thunder
- Playoff Game Preview - Ontario Reign at Idaho Steelheads - Ontario Reign
- Cyclones Game Preview - Cincinnati vs. Gwinnett - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Wings Stadium Announces Spring And Summer Ticket Office Hours - Kalamazoo Wings
- ECHL Today - April 26 - ECHL
- Bergland's big night powers Thunder to 2-1 series lead - Stockton Thunder
- Aces Fall to Thunder 5-3 in Game Three, Trail Series 2-1 - Alaska Aces
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
