Reign Soars Past Condors in Calder Cup Playoffs Opener

The Ontario Reign made a scorching statement in the opening game of the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs, overpowering the Bakersfield Condors with a resounding 5-1 victory to take a 1-0 series lead in their best-of-three first-round matchup.

The explosive second period was the turning point, with the Reign erupting for four unanswered goals to bury the Condors in an avalanche of offense. Tyler Madden spearheaded the onslaught with a pair of tallies, while Akil Thomas and Joe Hicketts also found the back of the net to propel Ontario to a commanding lead.

“Tyler plays with a lot of emotions, and there was a reason I rested him towards the end of the regular season,” said Reign head coach Marco Sturm. “When he’s well-rested and ready to go, he’s really good, and it paid off today.”

Sturm’s strategic roster decisions also bore fruit, as he opted for a “heavy” lineup featuring the team’s big-bodied forwards. While disappointing for scratched prospects like Martin Chromiak and Brock Portillo, the move allowed the Reign to establish a physical presence and tilt the ice in their favor.

“It was a tough call, but my gut was saying that I wanted to go heavy,” Sturm explained. “I have a good feeling they will be very important in these playoffs, but this was my gut for Game 1, and I think it paid off.”

The Reign’s special teams were equally impressive, with their penalty kill neutralizing Bakersfield’s potent power play while converting twice on the man-advantage themselves. Goaltender Erik Portillo was stellar in his AHL playoff debut, turning aside 30 shots to stymie the high-powered Condors’ offense.

“I had a good background with playing a lot of playoff games in college, and a lot of just one game on the line scenarios,” said Portillo. “I felt prepared for this, and I think the team helped me out as well.”

While the victory was decisive, both Sturm and Portillo emphasized the importance of maintaining their level of play and consistency as the series shifts to Bakersfield for Game 2 on Saturday night.

“There’s always room to grow, but it was definitely a good start,” said Sturm. “The tough part, especially in the playoffs, is if you can do it again. We want the same commitment and the same consistency for 60 minutes, and then I will be happy.”

With the Reign drawing first blood, the pressure now shifts to the Condors to respond and even the series on home ice. However, if Ontario’s opening salvo is any indication, this could be the start of a deep playoff run for the streaking squad from Southern California.