Reign Clinch Playoff Spot with 5-1 Win over Condors
March 27, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Ontario Reign (38-18-4-5), four-time ECHL Pacific Division Champions and proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's 2014 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets, secured their spot in the 2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs with a 5-1 victory over the Bakersfield Condors (24-34-3-5) in front of a crowd of 4,611 on Friday night at Rabobank Arena.
The Reign got on the board early in the first period when Judd Blackwater came around the Condors' net and snapped a shot past Sean Cahill at 1:28.
During a period of four-on-four play, Ontario took advantage of the open ice as Garry Nunn sped down the right wing side from the neutral zone, curling beneath the circle before sending the puck into the slot for David Rutherford, who slammed the puck into the net at 5:50.
In the second period, Blackwater collected his second of the night when Matt Register's shot from the left point sailed into the air and dropped in front of Blackwater, who fired the puck into the open net.
The Reign added to their total at 13:40 while on the power-play, as a Condors skater deflected the puck into his own net following a face-off; Rocco Carzo was credited with the goal.
In the waning moments of the second period, Nick MacNeil took advantage of some confusion behind the Ontario net, and worked the puck into the slot before jamming it past Jussi Olkinuora at 19:19.
The Reign capped the scoring in the third period when Blackwater took a feed from Nunn and rifled the puck between the pads of Cahill at 8:56 to complete the hat trick.
Olkinuora picked up the win with 24 saves; Cahill took the loss with 26 stops. With the victory, Olkinuora tied Chris Carrozzi for the most career wins by a goaltender in team history (36).
Reign head coach Jason Christie also made history, as he earned his 478th career victory, moving him past Jeff Pyle to become third all-time in ECHL head coaching wins.
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