The Coachella Valley Firebirds will try to wrap up the Calder Cup Pacific Division Finals Sunday in Ontario after taking a two games to none lead in the best-of-five series.
A watch party will be held at Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella, with doors opening at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. game.
Defenseman Cole Fleury scored twice and Shane Wright had a goal and two assists for the Firebirds in a 5-3 victory over the Ontario Reign Friday at Acrisure Arena.
The Firebirds scored three goals in the opening 14 minutes, 21 seconds, including scoring on the game’s first shot with John Hayden putting a slap shot from the right faceoff circle past Erik Portillo 1:57 into the first period for his second goal of the playoffs.
The Firebirds increased their lead to 2-0 when Fleury scored on a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle 11:15 into the first period off assists by Wright and Cameron Hughes.
Jani Nyman scored a power-play goal from directly in front of Portillo at 14:21 of the first period off assists by Devin Shore and Wright, one second before Charles Hudon’s roughing penalty was to expire.
Reign defenseman Kevin Connauton was credited with a goal 5:37 into the second period when Firebirds left wing Max McCormick batted the puck out of the air and behind goaltender Chris Driedger.
The Firebirds regained a three-goal lead when Wright muscled the puck past Portillo 5:13 later.
Ontario cut the deficit to 4-2 when Hayden Hodgson scored a power-play goal 3:00 into the third period off a rebound of a shot by Taylor Ward.
Fleury scored on a slapshot from the right point with 11:44 left in the third period, one second after Hodgson’s five-minute major for interference expired. Hodgson also received a game misconduct for the play.
TJ Tynan redirected a shot by Hudon for a power-play goal with 9:32 remaining for the Reign, the Los Angeles Kings’ American Hockey League affiliate.
Ontario led in shots, 35-28, including an 18-8 advantage in the third period.
Driedger made 32 saves. Portillo made 23.
The Firebirds, the Seattle Reign’s AHL affiliate, scored on one of seven power-play opportunities, the Reign two of five.