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Ontario Reign 2016/2017

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It'll be a Roy-fest in the first round, as the Gulls also have a Roy - but theirs is a forward.

The Reign's magic number for the playoffs is now 7 points in their final 8 games. They trail San Diego for home ice in the first round by 7 points, but since 4 of their final games are head-to-head against the Gulls, the Reign actually still control their destiny -- if they win out (8-0) and win all four against San Diego in regulation, they would clinch the #2 spot.
 
The Reign's magic number is now 5 points - at least one of which will be handed to them when Bako plays Stockton in 12 days, as those two teams are currently tied for the last playoff spot in the division.

However, the Reign may find themselves with home ice already out of reach by as early as Wednesday - any loss vs San Jose that night plus any Gulls' win over Stockton would lock San Jose and San Diego into the top two spots.

The four games remaining against the Gulls will, however, determine the season series between the teams, which currently stands at Gulls 10 points (4-2-2), Reign 9 points (4-3-1). It would still take a series of very unlikely events to have the Reign draw any team other than the Gulls in the first round.
 
HansH said:
The Reign's magic number is now 5 points - at least one of which will be handed to them when Bako plays Stockton in 12 days, as those two teams are currently tied for the last playoff spot in the division.

However, the Reign may find themselves with home ice already out of reach by as early as Wednesday - any loss vs San Jose that night plus any Gulls' win over Stockton would lock San Jose and San Diego into the top two spots.

The four games remaining against the Gulls will, however, determine the season series between the teams, which currently stands at Gulls 10 points (4-2-2), Reign 9 points (4-3-1). It would still take a series of very unlikely events to have the Reign draw any team other than the Gulls in the first round.
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This Reign squad is not good or consistent enough to win home ice. They just need to concentrate on making the playoffs, especially with three of their top prospects on the Kings roster. They will be much more competitive when they comeback. They also need to get MacDermid back by the playoffs, and Trotman, who has been out nearly all year, is skating. If they got both those D men back, plus the prospects on the Kings, the Reign will be a much better and balanced team. Seems like the Gulls ace in the hole is Enroth. He is quite a difference maker.
 
regulate said:
This Reign squad is not good or consistent enough to win home ice. They just need to concentrate on making the playoffs, especially with three of their top prospects on the Kings roster. They will be much more competitive when they comeback. They also need to get MacDermid back by the playoffs, and Trotman, who has been out nearly all year, is skating. If they got both those D men back, plus the prospects on the Kings, the Reign will be a much better and balanced team. Seems like the Gulls ace in the hole is Enroth. He is quite a difference maker.
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You're not wrong on Enroth. He just seems pretty unflappable at the AHL level this year, while Tokarski for the Gulls can shine, but can also have some baffling mental and performance lapses -- he rarely makes me comfortable. I'm still very curious how the "four games in nine days out of five total against one opponent" scheduling is going to affect each of the teams.
 
I think Reign have a good shot. They'll get a big boost going into the playoffs by getting back Kempe, Brodzinski, LaDue, Trotman, Biss, Auger, and maybe McDermind.

Wagner and Watson could be additions from juniors as well.
 
CTKingsFan said:
I think Reign have a good shot. They'll get a big boost going into the playoffs by getting back Kempe, Brodzinski, LaDue, Trotman, Biss, Auger, and maybe McDermind.

Wagner and Watson could be additions from juniors as well.
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I don't disagree, if it all comes together they could be a force. A lot will depend on the team D and Campbell if he has the mental makeup. But they have to get all or most of those guys back from the big club and/or healthy. San Jose is substantially better this year, and the Gulls are very good with Enroth in net. San Jose did lose Goldobin though in the trade with Vancouver, and that hurts them significantly. He was a force, particularly against the Reign. It looks likely that the Reign and Gulls will meet up in the 1st round (5 games ugh), if the Reign can get their act together and win a few games and lock up a spot. Stockton is tough, they are not going to roll over either, and Bakersfield is no slouch. It's going to be a battle to the end.
 
regulate said:
Word is he was hurt. Not sure how severe. Reddekopp's team also just eliminated.
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More about Reddekopp's last game, with Reddekopp in leading photo:

Victoria Royals make historic playoff exit

The Royals were eliminated from the Western Hockey League playoffs Sunday in an extraordinary game that was the longest ever played in WHL and Canadian Hockey League history.
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It was the first game in WHL history to go to five overtimes.

Both squads received an appreciative and rousing ovation following the game from the 4,613 fans, most of whom stayed through the bitter end after spending five hours and 49 minutes of total game time in the building. Few fans in hockey history have spent as much time watching a single game. It began shortly after 2 p.m. and ended just before 8 p.m. The main concession remained open but the pickings were getting slim. Beer sales ended after the second period. Who knew there would be six more to come?
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Reddekopp came back just for the playoffs, I think, he was out with an injury since early February. He could be pulled up for experience, he obviously already has the size necessary. Pretty sure Clague was beat up at the end of the season and came back for the playoffs too.
 
CTKingsFan said:
I think Reign have a good shot. They'll get a big boost going into the playoffs by getting back Kempe, Brodzinski, LaDue, Trotman, Biss, Auger, and maybe McDermind.

Wagner and Watson could be additions from juniors as well.
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I wouldn't hold my breath on Wagner, Regina is stacked this year and will likely go deep. Mississauga isn't as good, so maybe Watson (who has been good so far).
 
Going to the Reign game here in San Jose again. Sucks that the Kings stole all of the Reign's best players, but hopefully I'll get a good look at Amadio.
 
kingsboy11 said:
Going to the Reign game here in San Jose again. Sucks that the Kings stole all of the Reign's best players, but hopefully I'll get a good look at Amadio.
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Got back from the game. Final score was 5-1. They looked like a team who were missing their best players going up against the best team in the AHL.
 
The Reign's magic number for the playoffs is now 3 points, and if they get 5 points (or if Stockton loses 5 points) in the remaining five games, they will avoid a first-round matchup against the division winner (likely San Jose). However, the Gulls are one point away from locking up home ice in the first round, so we're closer and closer to locking in that Gulls/Reign first round battle.
 
HansH said:
The Reign's magic number for the playoffs is now 3 points, and if they get 5 points (or if Stockton loses 5 points) in the remaining five games, they will avoid a first-round matchup against the division winner (likely San Jose). However, the Gulls are one point away from locking up home ice in the first round, so we're closer and closer to locking in that Gulls/Reign first round battle.
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I despise the opening 5 game series after such a long hard fought season. IF the Reign have Kempe, Brodzinski, LaDue, Trotman, MacDermid and Auger back, then the Reign have a chance in this series if Campbell plays well. With all the Ducks injuries plus they are playoff bound, do you suspect Theodore and Montour stay up with the big club? That will certainly help the Reign.

Next year may be a very down year for the Reign. Looks like a lot of players may be graduating or moving on. The defense especially is worrisome next season.
 
regulate said:
I despise the opening 5 game series after such a long hard fought season. IF the Reign have Kempe, Brodzinski, LaDue, Trotman, MacDermid and Auger back, then the Reign have a chance in this series if Campbell plays well. With all the Ducks injuries plus they are playoff bound, do you suspect Theodore and Montour stay up with the big club? That will certainly help the Reign.
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That's a very good question. My gut says that Montour will stay up, and that Theodore will end up sent back down for the playoffs -- I don't have any rational backing to that, it's just a feeling. Honestly, if the Gulls could only have one of the two, I'd prefer Montour at this moment in those two players' development -- then again, if Ducks' management sees the same things I do, they might want him for the big boys for exactly those reasons.

The Gulls' blueline took another hit earlier this week - the Ducks called up Jakob Megna (who played last night against Chicago), who has been a thoroughly steadying presence all through the season and back into last year. I'd REALLY hope the Gulls get him back at the very least before the playoffs. If they are missing the top half of their blue line, that may expose some of the depth defensemen. I'm appreciative of the potential of Cooper and Welinski, but they're young, and the playoffs are a lot of pressure on kids in their first full pro season. After that, the Gulls have Schultz -- yes, _that_ Schultz, a couple of years slower. The AHL doesn't outpace him as much as the NHL would at this point, but he's clearly a slow d-man even at that level.

These next four "tune up" games will be fascinating to see how the teams prepare for that too-short first-round matchup.
 
regulate said:
That crowd though. Ugly. I mean it looked like there were a hundred people there.
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Rumor has it the mid-term plan for the Barracuda is to expand Sharks Ice to a minor-pro size (say, 5k capacity), and move them there once that's complete. I haven't been keeping tabs on whether that has progressed or not. Personally, the nostalgist in me would like to see the Barracuda put into Fresno, to renew some old WCHL possibilities.
 
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