Reign end season in devastating double overtime loss to Firebirds
In a win or go home Game 5 of the AHL Pacific Division semifinals, the Ontario Reign lost 3-2 against the Coachella Valley Firebirds in double overtime at Toyota Arena. The Firebirds advance to the AHL Pacific Finals while the Pacific Division champions go home empty handed. J.
R. Avon had the game winning goal.
ONTARIO, CA. -- Erik Portillo dropped to his knees, laid face first on the ice while his body spread out like a starfish after J. R.
Avon’s game-winning double overtime goal ended the Ontario Reign’s 47 win, 99 points, record-breaking season - just like that. In a do or die, Game 5 elimination game for the AHL Pacific Division semifinals, the Reign took a heartbreaking 3-2 double overtime loss to the Coachella Valley Firebirds Saturday night in Ontario. Unfortunately tonight the Reign resembled their NHL club - the Los Angeles Kings - who also lost in the first round of playoffs, showing two sides of the same coin.
“It’s brutal, just brutal,” Ontario coach Andrew Lord said in postgame interviews. “(I’ve) been on the right side of these (playoff elimination games), been on the wrong side. It’s never fun when you’re on the other side but as far as the group, what a season.