J.R. Avon, Coachella Valley Trample Division Top-Seeding Ontario In Game One of Pacific Semifinals

J.R. Avon (10), scores the first goal of the game for the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the second period against the Ontario Reign during the Pacific Division Semifinals in Ontario, CA, April 29, 2026. (Source: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

The Coachella Valley Firebirds got a momentum-establishing 3-0 win over the number one seed team in the Pacific Division, the Ontario Reign in the Pacific Semifinals of the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Both teams looked evenly matched in the first frame with the Firebirds barely outshooting the Reign 13-12 by the first intermission despite getting a power play opportunity.

However, almost immediately on the onset of the second period, Coachella Valley would get their second chance at the man-advantage. This time, forward J.R. Avon would score the game opener, as well as the winner on the Reign's Pacific Division-topping penalty-kill unit.

In a low shooting second period where both teams put up a combined 14 shots, the Firebirds restricted the Reign to just five shots. All this despite Ontario getting three opportunities on the power play including two back-to-back two-minute power plays thanks to a Firebirds double minor.

Coachella Valley would continue with the momentum into the third period, outshooting Ontario 11-3 until the 12:02 mark of the frame, resulting in an insurance goal by forward Oscar Fisker-Molgaard and a second goal for Avon, sealing the game for the Firebirds.

Firebirds goalie Nikke Kokko registered a 23-game shutout.

Reign goalie Erik Portillo made 30 saves off 33 shots for a save percentage of 0.909.