After a long, hard fought season for the Ontario Reign, they have clinched the three-seed in the Pacific division.
With the Bakersfield Condors being the six seed, this means we will have a baby Kings-Oilers series in the AHL.
Since Ontario and Bakersfield is only about a two and a half hour bus ride, it will be a 1-1-1 series format, with the Reign having home-ice advantage in games 1 and 3.
Here is the schedule
Game 1 - Wed, Apr. 24 - Bakersfield Condors at Ontario Reign, 7:00 PM
Game 2 - Sat. Apr. 27 - Ontario Reign at Bakersfield Condors, 7:00 PM
Game 3 - Sun. Apr. 28 - Bakersfield Condors at Ontario Reign, 5:00 PM (if necessary)
After dropping eight of nine games heading into the all star break, there were questions whether or not the Reign would even make the playoffs.
It was a much needed break, as the Reign went on a heater in the second half, going 20-8, earning themselves the third seed with 91 points.
The Condors limped into the playoffs on the other hand. After a strong first half of the season, they went 18-17 in the last half, getting themselves 84 points.
Do not let their average season fool you. This is what Ontario Reign head coach Marco Sturm said about Bakersfield back in March, “On paper, Coachella and Bakersfield are the two best teams [in the division].”
The Reign got the better of the Condors this season, going 5-3 against the blue and orange. On top of that, Ontario has taken the last three contests.
Expect the special teams to play a huge factor in this series. Bakersfield is four for six on the power play in their last three games against the Reign.
Interestingly enough, the Reign penalty kill has been bad at home. Their PK is at 75.6% at home, in contrast to their 85.1% on the road.
This is not what you want, as the Condors power play sits at 20.6%, which sits 5th in the AHL.
Furthermore, Bakersfield’s goaltender Jack Campbell has played the Reign very well all season. In three games played, he has a .927 sv% plus a shutout against Ontario.
Raphael Lavoie and Drake Caggiula share identical stats against Ontario, both with three goals and a pair of assists.
Philip Broberg has been an assist merchant against the Reign, tallying six of them this season.
Xavier Bourgalt, Carter Savoie, and Matvey Petrov, all have three goals.
Seth Griffith and Lane Pederson are also some key players in this series for the Condors, both being their leading scorers all year.
On the other hand, Ontario’s power play has exploded in recent games. It has been magnificent, their percentage is good enough for second in the league, sitting at 21.8%.
Additionally, all their star players are active and ready to go for the first round. Charles Hudon is coming off his injury stint, and Alex Turcotte is back down to help Ontario make a deep push.
Slot them in a lineup with guys like Samuel Fagemo and Brandt Clarke, two guys who made the AHL Second All-Star Team, this team can do some serious damage.
That is not even mentioning the likes of Akil Thomas, TJ Tynan, and Francesco Pinelli, three guys who played extremely well, especially in the latter half of the season.
Hudon, Thomas, and Pinelli all share three goals a piece against Bakersfield.
Madden, Fagemo, and Tynan all have two goals when facing the Condors as well.
Brandt Clarke leads the assists category with five, followed by Tyler Madden with four.
Erik Portillo will need to continue playing the way he has been all season. His 2.50 GAA ranks 13th in the AHL. He also has a .910 sv% against the Condors in 5 games played.
It will be a close series that I believe will go to three games. Both teams are very solid top to bottom, and will be a very grindy, physical series.
So the stage is set. Kings vs Oilers in the NHL, Reign vs Condors in the AHL. It really is the best time of the year.