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AHL Ontario Reign

Ontario Reign Game Preview: Reign Crash into Monsters Today in Game 4 of Western Conference Finals

May 26, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Ontario Reign News Release


Ontario Reign Battle the Lake Erie Monsters
Ontario Reign Battle the Lake Erie Monsters
(Ontario Reign)

Ontario, CA - The Ontario Reign, proud American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL), take on Lake Erie Monsters in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals today at 4:00 PT at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The Reign trail the best-of-seven series, 3-0.

Western Conference Finals - (best-of-seven)

Game 1 - at Ontario 4-3 Loss

Game 2 - at Ontario 3-2 Loss

Game 3 - Lake Erie 4-0 Loss

Game 4 - Thu., May 26 - Ontario at Lake Erie, 4:00 p.m. PT

*Game 5 - Sat., May 28 - Ontario at Lake Erie, 9:00 a.m. PT

*Game 6 - Tue., May 31 - Lake Erie at Ontario, 7:00 p.m. PT

*Game 7 - Wed., June 1 - Lake Erie at Ontario, 7:00 p.m. PT

*if necessary

Game 1 Recap:

Forwards Sean Backman and Nic Dowd each scored a goal and an assist, but the Lake Erie Monsters erased a 1-0 second-period Reign lead and held off a two-goal third period comeback for a 4-3 victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Monsters team captain Ryan Craig finished the contest with a goal and an assist.

Game 2 Recap:

The following night, Lake Erie jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period with a pair of tallies 12 seconds apart off the sticks of Markus Hannikainen and Lukas Sedlak. Early in the second period, forward T.J. Tynan made it 3-0 on the power play before the Reign mounted a third-period comeback. Forward Paul Bissonnette netted his first goal of the postseason early in the frame and defenseman Kevin Gravel added another, but Monsters goaltender Anton Forsberg denied a late-game push for a 3-2 victory.

Game 3 Recap:

The Reign earned early scoring chances, but the Monsters retaliated with three goals in a 4:27 span to take a three-goal first period lead en route to a 4-0 victory. Monsters forward Oliver Bjorkstrand scored a goal and two assists and defenseman Steve Eminger added two assists.

Reign Prepared to Fight:

"We have guys that won't give up or look to far ahead," said Reign defenseman Jeff Schultz after yesterday's practice. "You've got to take it period by period. It's do or die. We have come out with a lot of urgency and stick to our systems and what we did all year to get us here."

Dowd Shining in Postseason:

Reign forward Nic Dowd is tied seventh in the AHL postseason scoring race with 11 points (four goals, seven assists) and has two goals and four assists in his last five games.

Comeback Kids:

Three teams in AHL history have come back to win a best-of-seven series after trailing 0-3. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defeated Providence in the 2013 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Adirondack won over Hershey in the 1989 Southern Division Final and Rochester prevailed over Cleveland in the 1960 AHL Semifinal.

Road to Western Conference Finals:

The Reign and Monsters enter the Western Conference Finals for the first time in their histories. The Reign defeated the San Jose Barracuda, three games to one, in the best-of-five opening round while the Monsters swept the Rockford IceHogs. In the Pacific Division Finals, the Reign wiped out the San Diego Gulls, 4-1, and in the Central Division Finals, the Monsters raced out to 3-0 series lead over the Grand Rapids Griffins before prevailing in six games.

Team History:

The Ontario Reign finished their first AHL season in the Inland Empire after the LA Kings' top AHL affiliate moved from Manchester, New Hampshire last summer. With the Reign's appearance in the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs, the Kings' top affiliate has now reached the postseason the last seven straight seasons and 13 times in the last 14 years.

The Monsters completed their ninth season of AHL hockey in Cleveland, Ohio and their first as the top affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL). Over the previous eight seasons, the organization served as the primary affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche (now affiliated with the San Antonio Rampage). The 2016 Calder Cup playoffs marks only the second time in nine seasons that the Monsters have made the postseason and the first time since the 2010-11 campaign.

Broadcast Central

Listen Live: OntarioReign.com; LA Kings Mobile App

Watch Live: AHL Live

Twitter: @OntarioReign

Facebook: OntarioReign

Tonight's Game Notes

The Western Conference Finals continues in Cleveland, Ohio with Game 5, if necessary, on Saturday, May 28 at 9:00 a.m. Tune in play-by-play action at OntarioReign.com and the LA Kings mobile app!

2016 Calder Cup Playoff tickets are ON SALE NOW! Grab your favorite seats for all the hard-hitting postseason action as the Reign chase a Calder Cup Championship! Black out the Bank for Game 6, if necessary, Tuesday, May 31 at 7:00 at Citizens Business Bank Arena! Wear your favorite black Reign or LA Kings gear!

2015-16 Postseason Records

Ontario: 7-5, 0-3 in series

Lake Erie: 10-2, 3-0 in series

2015-2016 Records

Ontario: 44-19-4-1, 93 points, .684 winning percentage (1st place, Pacific Division)

Lake Erie: 43-22-6-5, 97 points, .638 winning percentage (2nd place, Central Division)

Head Coaches

Ontario: Mike Stothers (2nd season with LA Kings affiliate, 1st with Ontario)

Lake Erie: Jared Bednar (2nd year with Columbus Blue Jackets affiliate, 1st with Lake Erie)

NHL Affiliate

Ontario: Los Angeles Kings

Lake Erie: Columbus Blue Jackets

ECHL Affiliate

Ontario: Manchester Monarchs

Lake Erie: Kalamazoo Wings

Check out the Ontario Reign Statistics




Images from this story

Ontario Reign Battle the Lake Erie Monsters
Ontario Reign Battle the Lake Erie Monsters
   



American Hockey League Stories from May 26, 2016


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