In a tightly contested game one, the Ontario Reign fell short against the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
The highly anticipated series opener was everything we expected. No room in the neutral zone, disciplined play, and strong forechecking from both sides.
Ontario got on the board first, no one other than Andre Lee scoring his fourth goal of the playoffs.
It was a lot of back and forth play up until there was 5:23 left to play in the opening frame, where Max McCormick would play pinball with the puck, shooting a puck that took a couple turns and into the net to even the score.
During the next minute of play, the Firebirds were buzzing in their offensive zone, and with the crowd applauding the sustained pressure, Devin Shore would redirect a shot from Connor Carrick to give Coachella Valley the lead.
The Firebird faithful went absolutely bonkers when the shot got past Portillo. I thought the roof might fall from above.
What was a very successful first period for the Reign was all erased by a good minute for the Firebirds. Hockey can be cruel.
There was a sense that the next goal of the game would be a big one, and Coachella Valley capitalized first. Jimmy Schuldt wristed one past the glove of Portillo, giving the Firebirds insurance.
To start the final period of play, the Reign were on a 5-on-3 power play, and as the first skater skated out of the box, Fagemo beat Dreidger under the glove on a shot from the left circle.
Ontario pushed hard for the equalizer, but all for not. The Reign would fall short in game one 3-2.
Here are my three takeaways from the game
5-on-5 Play
Playoff hockey has some differences compared to the regular season, and one of those are the referees.
Throughout the first period, you can argue stripes missed around five to seven missed calls against the Reign, some of them being egregious.
Some of these missed calls even led to the two goals being scored in the one minute Coachella played well.
Although pointing at the referees is the easy escape, the Reign are going to need to step it up during 5-on-5 in this series.
Give credit to the Firebirds, they are unbelievably talented with speed and a very good forecheck, but the Reign are going to need to match it.
Unfortunately for the Reign, the Firebirds were one of the better teams while even strength this season. Maybe the Reign match this with more speed and option to go with Francesco Pinelli next game?
All But One Minute
It is always tough to lose a game of hockey, but it is especially tough to lose when you played better than the other team.
Ontario outshot Coachella 31-to-15 in this game, and had really good shifts in the final period of play.
Overall, if the AHL had the never-controversial “Win O’ Meter”, the Reign would have definitely had the favor.
But that’s hockey, the Reign outplayed the Firebirds for fifty-nine minutes of this game, but that one minute costed them this game,
Special Teams Was Good
The Reign finished this game going 1-for-3 on the power play, while holding Coachella Valley 0-for-2.
Coming into this game, the Reign power play looked very weak. Today though, all three power plays looked dangerous again.
As for the penalty kill, the Reign’s PK unit was remarkable. Coachella Valley had no answers when on the power play.
All in all, the Reign have nothing to be ashamed of in this game. Just a few mistakes here and there cost them the game.
This series is not close to being over. Game two is on Friday back in Coachella Valley. Must win game for the Reign.