Ontario Reign and Coachella Valley Firebirds Head into Game 3 Tied 1-1 in Pacific Division Semifinals

Key facts

• Game 3 of the Pacific Division Semifinals is Tuesday, May 5 at 7:00 PM Pacific at Acrisure Arena.
• The best-of-five series is tied 1-1 after Ontario won Game 2 5-1.
• Pheonix Copley made 34 saves on 35 shots in Game 2 for the Reign.
• Niklas Kokko posted a 23-save shutout in Game 1 for Coachella Valley.
• Francesco Pinelli scored a short-handed goal in Game 2, his first career AHL playoff goal.
• Ontario went 5-1-2 against Coachella Valley during the regular season.
• Coachella Valley has won both home playoff games so far this postseason.

Reign Bounce Back with Dominant Game 2 Victory

The Ontario Reign evened the series against the Coachella Valley Firebirds with a resounding 5-1 win at Toyota Arena on Friday. After dropping Game 1 by a 3-0 score, the Reign responded with a balanced offensive attack, getting goals from five different skaters. Lleyton Roed had given the Firebirds a 1-0 lead in the first period, but Logan Brown tied the game with 75 seconds left in the period, scoring his first career AHL playoff goal. Glenn Gawdin put Ontario ahead for good with 4:43 left in the second period, his fifth goal of the season against Coachella Valley.

Quick Strikes and Special Teams Prove Decisive

The Reign seized control early in the third period when Cole Guttman scored just 15 seconds in, making it 3-1 with his sixth goal of the year against the Firebirds. Francesco Pinelli then added a short-handed tally at 2:19 of the third, extending the lead to 4-1. Martin Chromiak sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 3:30 remaining. Ontario's penalty kill was perfect in Game 2, going 5-for-5, while the team did not receive a single power-play opportunity. Pinelli's short-handed goal was his first career AHL Calder Cup Playoff goal in his fifth game; he had scored only two short-handed goals in 202 regular-season games, both in the 2024-25 season.

Goaltending Duel Shifts in Ontario's Favor

Pheonix Copley earned the victory in Game 2, stopping 34 of 35 shots. Copley posted a 21-11-1 record with a 2.59 goals-against average and.901 save percentage in 33 regular-season appearances. Erik Portillo started Game 1, stopping 30 of 33 shots in the loss. The two goaltenders alternated starts for 26 straight games from January 3 to March 8 before Portillo made back-to-back starts on March 8-11. For the Firebirds, Niklas Kokko has started all five playoff games. After allowing 10 goals on 38 shots in his first two starts of the postseason, Kokko made 54 saves on 56 shots over his next two starts, then allowed four goals on 19 shots in Game 2 against Ontario.

Series Shifts to Palm Desert with Home-Ice Advantage at Stake

The series now moves to Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert for Game 3, with both teams looking to seize the lead in the best-of-five series. Ontario posted a 3-0-1 record at Acrisure Arena during the regular season, part of a 5-1-2 overall mark against the Firebirds. Coachella Valley, however, has been strong at home in the playoffs, winning both of their home games so far: a 5-4 victory over Bakersfield in Game 2 of the first round and a 6-2 win in Game 3 of that series. The Firebirds were 19-13-4 at home during the regular season but lost their last four home games, going 0-3-1. Their last home win was a 4-1 victory over San Jose on March 29.

Key Players to Watch for Coachella Valley

Oscar Fisker Mølgaard has been a standout for the Firebirds, tied for second in the playoffs with seven points and tied for first with four goals. He has recorded a point in four straight games. Niklas Kokko, despite his Game 2 struggles, posted a 23-save shutout in Game 1 and has three wins in four playoff outings. The Firebirds will look to regain their home-ice advantage and take control of the series. Ontario, meanwhile, will rely on its depth scoring and strong penalty kill, which has killed all nine shorthanded situations through two games.

What's at Stake in Game 3

Game 3 is pivotal for both teams. A win for Ontario would give them a 2-1 series lead and put them one win away from advancing to the division finals. For Coachella Valley, a victory would restore home-ice advantage and put the Reign on the brink of elimination. The series is scheduled to continue with Game 4 on Thursday, if necessary, and a potential Game 5 on Saturday. The winner of this series will face the winner of the other Pacific Division semifinal between the Calgary Wranglers and the San Jose Barracuda.

The bottom line

• The Ontario Reign and Coachella Valley Firebirds are tied 1-1 in the best-of-five Pacific Division Semifinals.
• Ontario's 5-1 win in Game 2 was powered by goals from five different skaters and a 34-save performance by Pheonix Copley.
• Francesco Pinelli scored a short-handed goal, his first career AHL playoff goal, and the Reign's penalty kill is perfect through two games.
• Niklas Kokko of the Firebirds recorded a shutout in Game 1 but allowed four goals in Game 2.
• The series shifts to Acrisure Arena for Game 3, where Ontario had a 3-0-1 record during the regular season.
• Oscar Fisker Mølgaard leads the Firebirds with seven playoff points and four goals, with a point streak of four games.