Playoff Game Preview - Ontario Reign vs. Utah Grizzlies
Published on April 3, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release
Reign Game - 2 | Reign Home Game - 2
ECHL Game - 2
Arena: Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, CA
Date: Wednesday, Apr. 3, 2013
Time: 7:00 p.m. (PT)
Video Webcast: America ONE Networks
Audio Webcast: Jesse Liebman - Pre-game show 6:40 p.m.
TONIGHT:
The Ontario Reign continue Round One against the Utah Grizzlies. This is Ontario's third playoff appearance in five years of existence; Utah's seventh in an eight year existence.
Last night, Ontario took a 1-0 lead over Utah in the season series with a 5-2 win, their second largest margin of victory in post-season history.
During the 2012-13 season, the Reign came out ahead of the Grizzlies with a 3-1-0-1 record against the Western Conference club.
HOW THEY RANK:
By the end of the 2012-13 season the Reign had earned their third Division Title, ranked second in the Western Conference, and second overall in the league - trailing the league-leading Alaska Aces by just seven points - with a club-high 99 points. The Grizzlies finished fourth in the Mountain Division, 7th in the Western Conference, and 18th overall in the league.
PLAYOFF PATTERNS:
The Reign have yet to have more than one regulation win or one regulation loss in a row in any Kelly Cup appearance. In the Stockton series, the Reign alternated wins and losses, with one overtime loss followed by a regulation loss; that series went to seven games with five of them being one-goal games. In the Idaho series they went to five games with alternating wins and losses; three of those five matches were one-goal games. The final game was a 5-0 blowout in favor of Idaho.
GOING THE DISTANCE:
The Reign have yet to break through the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. In the 2009 Playoffs, Ontario lost to the Stockton Thunder in Game 7; they wouldn't make another post-season appearance until Head Coach Jason Christie stepped behind the bench in 2011-12. Again, the Reign didn't make it past the first round losing in Game 5 against the Idaho Steelheads in a physical and controversial series. The Grizzlies have yet to win a Kelly Cup but in 2007-08 made it to the Conference Finals under the direction of Jason Christie - the farthest he has seen a team go in the post-season.
PLAYOFF SERIES:
4/2: ONT vs UTA....W, 5-2
4/3: ONT vs UTA
4/5: ONT at UTA
4/6: ONT at UTA
4/9: ONT at UTA
4/12: ONT vs UTA
4/13: ONT vs UTA
2012-13 SEASON SERIES:
12/28: ONT @ UTA....L, 4-3 SO
12/29: ONT @ UTA....W, 6-5 OT
1/4: ONT vs UTA....W, 5-2
2/1: ONT vs UTA....W, 6-5 SO
2/2: ONT vs UTA....L, 0-3
STREAKS:
Kraemer: 1-game goal/assist (2g, 2a)
Couture: 1-game assist (3a)
Ebert: 1-game goal (1g)
Stretch: 1-game goal (1g)
Estrada: 1-game goal (1g)
Burt: 1-game assist (1a)
Van de Mosselaer: 1-game assist (1a)
Berube: 1-game win (1-0-0)
REIGN TRACKER:
Sheahan, Brock: leads in post-season appearances with 36
Estrada: leads with 14 post-season pts (5g, 9a)
Walker: has most Reign post-season games played with 8
Kraemer: 1st in ECHL with 4 pts
Couture: 1st in ECHL with 3a
2012-13 LEADERS:
Points: Kraemer 4
Goals: Kraemer 2
Assists: Couture 3
+/-: Stretch/Couture +3
PIM: Lamoureux 4
SOG: Couture/Brodie Sheahan 6
NEXT GAME:
The Reign will play Game 3 against the Grizzlies at in Utah on Friday, April 5.
ECHL Stories from April 3, 2013
- Everblades Receive Forward Jenks from AHL Charlotte - Florida Everblades
- Froese Back to Walleye - Toledo Walleye
- Playoff Game Preview - Ontario Reign vs. Utah Grizzlies - Ontario Reign
- ECHL Transactions - April 3 - ECHL
- ECHL Announces Fine, Suspension - ECHL
- Royals to Sell 'Super-Secret' Special Jerseys on Web Site - Reading Royals
- Game 4 to Air Live on Altitude Sports and Entertainment - Idaho Steelheads
- Gladiators Guimond Named ECHL Defenseman of the Year - Atlanta Gladiators
- Altitude Sports & Entertainment to Broadcast Game 4 of ECHL Playoff Series - Colorado Eagles
- Gwinnett's Guimond Named 2012-13 ECHL Defenseman of the Year - ECHL
- Roy & Trivino Receive ECHL Monthly Award Honors - Florida Everblades
- Florida's Roy Named Reebok Hockey ECHL Player of the Month - ECHL
- Condors Rookie Brett Perlini Called up to Lake Erie - Bakersfield Condors
- Florida's Trivino Named Reebok Hockey ECHL Rookie of the Month - ECHL
- Forward Alden Hirschfeld Returns from Providence - South Carolina Stingrays
- Riley Gill Named Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Month - Reading Royals
- Reading's Gill Named Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Month - ECHL
- ECHL Today - April 3 - ECHL
- Reign Storm Grizzlies with 5-2 Game 1 Win - Ontario Reign
- Quick Start Gives Ontario Edge in Game 1 - Utah Grizzlies
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