The Firebirds lost to the Hershey Bears in the Calder Cup Finals last year
The Coachella Valley Firebirds have advanced to their second straight Calder Cup semifinals after sweeping the Ontario Reign in their third round matchup.
The Firebirds became the first team to punch their ticket to the semifinals.
Entering the third round, the Reign had yet to lose a match during the playoffs, sweeping both the Bakersfield Condors and the Abbotsford Canucks to make it to the Pacific Division Finals but the Firebirds proved to be too much.
With the series opening up on May 15, the Firebirds won Game 1 by a slim margin of 3-2, thanks in part to goals by Max McCormick, Devin Shore and Jimmy Schuldt as well as a 29 save performance from Chris Driedger.
With Game 2 taking place Friday, the Reign entered it hoping to tie the series at one but the Firebirds came out of the gates firing on all cylinders. Coachella Valley scored three first period goals and never looked back on their way to a 5-3 victory.
In a do or die game Sunday, the Reign put up a valiant effort, scoring the first two goals of the game but the Firebirds proved to be too much once again.
With two goals by Kole Lind and one by Jimmy Schuldt, the Firebirds came storming back to take a 3-2 lead early in the third period. The Reign were never able to tie the game, ending their season.
The Firebirds will face off against the winner of the Milwaukee Admirals/Grand Rapids Griffins series in the Western Conference Finals.
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