The two hottest teams in the Pacific Division meet up in the Final, as the unbeaten Ontario Reign are about to face off against the Coachella Valley Firebirds, who made short work of Dustin Wolf and the Calgary Wranglers. Ontario has already dispatched the Bakersfield Condors and the Abbotsford Canucks, will they take down the Pacific Division regular season champs?
Why Coachella Valley Advanced
Although Coachella had an 11-day break before their first postseason game, it did not stop them from finding a way to top the Calgary Wranglers. The Firebirds would only drop game one of the series against the Wranglers as they dust off the first-round break. As the series progressed, the Firebirds would find their footing and push to find a way to win.
Coming out Flying
When Coachella comes out hot in the first period of play, they are likelier to maintain their offensive play throughout the other 40 minutes. In game 3 of the series, Coachella became the better team during the first period of play after a goal by John Hayden tied the game. This story would be the same for the series’ final two games. The Firebirds outshoot the Wranglers in all three wins after scoring in the first.
Staying Out of the Penalty Box
One thing Coachella needed help with in round two was staying out of the penalty box. During game three alone, they would draw seven penalties. This allowed the Wranglers to capitalize four goals on the extra man advantage. It will be essential to keep play clean moving into this next series.
Net Front Pressure
The Firebirds’ net-front presence helped them win against Dustin Wolf. This kind of pressure can frustrate goaltenders and lead to offensive success. It will be necessary for the Firebirds not to let go of keeping pressure on the opposing goaltender as playoffs move on.
Why The Ontario Reign Advanced
Goaltending
It’s Erik Portillo’s world, and we’re all just living in it. He is a perfect 5-0 on the postseason, has allowed only six goals in those five games, has a .956 sv%, and a shutout to boot. He’s been undeniably the Reign’s MVP through the first two rounds of the postseason, and has been the best goalie in the entire AHL. And, impressively, he’s doing all of this as a rookie in his first season out of college.
Depth
The Reign’s big guns have been a little quiet so far this postseason. Samuel Fagemo has only one goal, TJ Tynan has four points in five games, and their leading scorer has been second line player Tyler Madden, who has four goals in five games. The Reign have found a way to win even when their top guys have been shut down, which is important in the playoffs even more than the regular season. The Reign have been strong so far, and if they’re doing that without guys like Fagemo (43 goals in the regular season) appearing in the goals column of the scoresheet? If they can get that top line of Fagemo-Tynan-Alex Turcotte really revved up, it could make for a tough series for Coachella Valley.
PK Stands For Power Kill
The Reign had the second best PP in the league in the regular season, and struggled on the PK. So far this postseason, that’s been flipped, as they are 4th in the AHL in PK efficiency, having allowed only two goals on 17 attempts and added a shorthanded goal as well. They’re currently tops in teams still in the playoffs at 88.2% (the three teams better than them: Rockford, Rochester and Belleville, all eliminated last round), and it’s more than making up for an uninspiring power play performance (Three PPG on 23 attempts).
Regular Season Matchup
This matchup is a natural rivalry, as they are roughly 80 miles apart. Yet, over the past two seasons, the Firebirds have held the regular-season victory over the Reign. Compared to last season’s 5-1-0-2 record for the Firebirds against the Reign, this season would be different.
This season, the Firebirds would only win four of the eight matchups against the Reign. Despite the Firebirds’ four wins, the Reign won three games in regulation and pushed a win in OT. That said, these two teams have yet to meet since March 15.
Firebirds To Watch
Max McCormick, the Captain of the Firebirds, has led this team on the ice so far this post-season. McCormick has averaged a point per game, totaling three goals and an assist. One of his goals came as a power-play goal.
Another Firebird to keep an eye on this round is Marian Studenic. Studenic scored twice so far. One came as a short-handed goal during game three from the last round, earning the game’s second star. His special teams ability has allowed for plays that lead them to the other end of the ice.
Chris Driedger is critical to Coachella’s success during the regular and postseason. Even though this is Driedger’s first postseason in the AHL, he has proven to understand the change of play from the regular season. During game four of the semi-finals, Driedger kept the Wranglers from scoring on their 31 shots on goal.
Reign To Watch
Taylor Ward has been an unsung hero for the Reign in these playoffs; another example of a depth forward doing great work. He’s a point a game player and is outproducing the Reign’s top line with two goals and three assists so far in these playoffs.
Another player to keep an eye on is Joe Hicketts, who started the postseason on the third pairing, and has found himself playing with number one defenceman Brandt Clarke as of late. He’s the leading defenceman scorer on the team with a goal and four assists, and has been making his presence known to the opposition on both ends of the ice.
I would be remiss if I didn’t reiterate here that the Reign will live and die by Erik Portillo in this series. If Coachella Valley does to him what they did to Dustin Wolf, this could be a short and disappointing series for Ontario. If Portillo can stand up to the Firebirds, his MVP calibre postseason will keep rising and rising. In the five games so far this postseason, he’s allowed more than one goal only once. Can he keep that up?
Predictions
Karen: The Firebirds are on an upward trend, which has awarded them success this regular season. Even though the Firebirds may have dropped game one this postseason, the squad now returns what it needs to the Calder Cup finals. Firebirds in four.
Jay: Reign in five. My bold prediction is that we get another Erik Portillo shutout in this series.
Series Schedule
Round three of the Calder Cup Playoffs starts this week, as the Coachella Valley Firebirds take on the Ontario Reign.
Action will start on Wednesday, May 15, at 7 PM PST at Acrisure Arena. Additionally, game two will also be at Acrisure Arena at the same time on Friday, May 17. Then, both teams will travel the I-10 to play at Toyota Arena at 7 PM PST on Sunday, May 19. If needed, game four will be at Toyota Arena on Friday, May 24. Finally, game five will return to Acrisure Arena on Sunday, May 28, at 3 PM PST.
