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Palm Desert Today
By the People, for the People
Ontario Reign Face Coachella Valley Firebirds in AHL Matchup
Ontario Reign look to clinch division lead as they take on red-hot Firebirds in Palm Desert
Apr. 1, 2026 at 3:37pm
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The Ontario Reign, who have already clinched a playoff spot, will face off against the surging Coachella Valley Firebirds in an AHL regular-season game on Wednesday night. The Reign are currently one point ahead of the Colorado Eagles for the division lead, while the Firebirds have won nine of their last 10 games and sit in fourth place in the standings.
Why it matters
This matchup is crucial as both teams jockey for position in the AHL's Pacific Division. The Reign are looking to solidify their hold on the division lead, while the Firebirds are aiming to continue their hot streak and climb up the standings. The outcome of this game could have significant implications for the playoff race in the Western Conference.
The details
The Reign are coming off a series split in Tucson last weekend, winning 3-2 on Friday before falling 4-2 on Saturday. Ontario has collected a point in 13 of their last 16 games and has a 19-14-1 record on the road this season. The Firebirds, meanwhile, are riding a five-game winning streak and have outscored their opponents 22-10 during that span. Coachella Valley has a 19-10-3 record at home this season.
- The game is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1 at 6:30 PM Pacific time.
- Ontario has six games remaining after this matchup, while Colorado has seven.
- The Reign have scored four or more goals in 29 games this season, but have failed to do so in their last 10 contests.
The players
Martin Chromiak
The Ontario Reign forward has 49 points (17 goals, 32 assists) this season and has been a key contributor, recording 10 points (7 goals, 3 assists) in 13 games during March.
Logan Morrison
The Coachella Valley Firebirds' leading scorer has 57 points (27 goals, 30 assists) this season and has been instrumental in the team's recent hot streak, recording 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) in their last 10 games.
What they’re saying
“We must continue to play our game and not get caught up in the hype of this matchup. Our focus is on ourselves and making sure we're ready to compete at a high level.”
— Marco Sturm, Head Coach, Ontario Reign
“This is an important game for us as we look to solidify our position in the standings. We've been playing some great hockey lately and we're confident we can come out on top against a tough opponent like Ontario.”
— Jani Nyman, Forward, Coachella Valley Firebirds
What’s next
After this game, the Reign will play five of their final six games at home, where they have a 22-5-2-2 record this season. The Firebirds, on the other hand, will have eight games remaining after this matchup as they look to continue their push for a higher playoff seed.
The takeaway
This game between the Ontario Reign and Coachella Valley Firebirds is a crucial one in the AHL's Pacific Division race. Both teams are playing well and have something to prove, making for an exciting and potentially pivotal matchup that could have significant implications for the playoff picture in the Western Conference.
