Playoff Preview - Ontario Reign at Allen Americans - Game 1
May 17, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release
Ontario Reign at Allen Americans
Western Conference Finals | Game 1
Arena: Allen Event Center, Allen, Texas
Date: Sunday, May 17, 2015
Time: 2:05 p.m. (PDT)
Watch: ECHL.TV, powered by NeuLion
Listen: Spreaker - Pre-game show starts at 1:50 p.m.
Follow: Facebook - Twitter - #ReignTrain
WATCH PARTY: Be sure to watch the Reign take on the Allen Americans today at 2:05 p.m. at the Tilted Kilt in Rancho Cucamonga located on 12770 E. Foothill Blvd. Come cheer on your Ontario Reign for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals!
TONIGHT:
The Ontario Reign (8-4) and Allen Americans (8-3) open the Western Conference Finals at the Allen Event Center. The winner of this series will face the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals (Toledo Walleye vs. South Carolina Stingrays) in the Kelly Cup Finals. This is the first time both teams have appeared in the Conference Finals in ECHL play; Allen previously won back-to-back President's Cups in the Central Hockey League before joining the ECHL for 2014-15. The Reign and Americans split the regular season series at 1-1-0-0.
REIGN GOALIE GETS FIRST LOOK AT AMERICANS:
Current Reign goaltender Jussi Olkinuora was not in the lineup when Ontario faced Allen for a pair of games in February. The Jets prospect gets his first crack at the Americans tonight after coming off a 22-save performance to help his team get the shutout in the series-clinching Game 5 against the Utah Grizzlies, and is coming off a .952 save percentage in Pacific Division Finals.
PENALTIES MAY DICTATE SERIES:
Ontario and Allen are averaging close to the same amount of penalties per game; however, opponents of the Reign have averaged a league-high 22.08 penalty minutes per game. This bodes well for Ontario, as the Reign lead the ECHL in power-play efficiency with 17 goals on 65 chances (26.2%).
REGISTER LEADING BLUELINERS:
Defenseman Matt Register has continued to widen his lead in the playoff scoring race among ECHL defensemen; his 14 points place him four ahead of the next blueliner. The third-year Reign defenseman is also first in goals by a rearguard (6), with his four power-play goals leading all skaters prior to the start of the Conference Finals.
14-15 HEAD-to-HEAD
02/10 - ONT vs ALN W, 4-1
02/11 - ONT vs ALN L, 3-5
2015 PLAYOFFS
5/17 - ONT at ALN
5/18 - ONT at ALN
5/21 - ONT vs ALN
5/23 - ONT vs ALN
5/24 - ONT vs ALN*
5/26 - ONT at ALN*
5/27 - ONT at ALN*
* if necessary
REIGN TRACKER:
- Register - 10 game point streak (5g-8a)
- Kitsyn - 3 game point streak (2g-3a)
- Brown - 2 game assist streak (3a)
- White - 2 game assist streak (2a)
14-15 REIGN PLAYOFF RECORDS:
Current streak: 2-0
Last 5 games: 4-1
Last 10 games: 7-3
Home: 5-1
Away: 3-3
Vs. Pacific Div.: 8-4
Vs. Central Div.: 0-0
Vs. Western Conf.: 8-4
Power play: 17/65 (26.2%)
Penalty kill: 10/58 (82.8%)
RECENT MOVES:
05/04 - ADD Couture (activated from reserve)
05/04 - DEL Rutherford (placed on reserve)
04/19 - DEL Bell (recalled to St. John's [AHL])
04/19 - ADD Vollrath (signed ATO)
04/19 - DEL Cannata (placed on reserve)
04/17 - ADD King (activated from reserve)
04/17 - DEL Couture (placed on reserve)
04/16 - ADD May (activated from reserve)
04/16 - DEL King (placed on reserve)
04/14 - ADD O'Rourke (added to playoff roster)
03/27 - ADD Carzo (returned from Norfolk [AHL])
03/27 - DEL Couture (placed on reserve)
NEXT GAME:
The Reign remain in Allen to take on the Americans in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on Monday, May 18 at 4:05 p.m. (PDT) at the Allen Event Center. Fans can join together and cheer on the Reign while the team hits the road for every away match during the Western Conference Finals at the Tilted Kilt Watch Party at the Tilted Kilt in Rancho Cucamonga located on 12 770 E. Foothill Blvd.
Reign Drops:
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 (909) 941-PUCK (7825). For more information, visit ontarioreign.com/tickets/playoff.
Climb aboard the #ReignTrain today! Visit ontarioreign.com/reigntrain and print out your fan banner to show your support as the Reign continue their run through the 2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Fans are encouraged to take and share photos through the Ontario Reign Instagram account.
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.
ECHL Stories from May 17, 2015
- Americans Jump on Ontario Early, Take Game 1, 8-2 - Allen Americans
- Reign Drop Game 1 to Americans, 8-2 - Ontario Reign
- ECHL Transactions - May 17 - ECHL
- Americans Open Western Conference Finals Today at Home - Allen Americans
- Playoff Preview - Ontario Reign at Allen Americans - Game 1 - Ontario Reign
- ECHL Today - May 17 - ECHL
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.
