For Firebirds, getting through the clog and muck of the Ontario defense will be key to series

The phrase "they clog it up" was bandied about more than once in the post-game news conference after the Coachella Valley Firebirds emerged with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Ontario in Game 1 of the Pacific Division final.

It was in reference to the 1-3-1 neutral zone defense employed by the Reign that held the Firebirds to an all-time low in shots on goal Wednesday at just 15. They'll take the win and they earned it, but finding a way to get more time in the offensive zone going forward will be imperative if the Firebirds are going to put away the Reign.

There is more than one reason the Firebirds only had 15 shots on goal. Many of their good shot opportunities were blocked or went wide of the net which don't count as shots on goal. They had the lead most of the game, which took a little of the offensive urgency away. And much of the third period the Firebirds spent in a defensive posture clinging to the lead as Ontario and their 31 shots on goal controlled the puck.

But it is a bedrock of the Reign's defensive strategy to "muck it up" in the neutral zone and prevent a team from carrying the puck into the offensive zone which is what the Firebirds prefer to do.

"They play that 1-3-1 trap which can be a little bit frustrating to play against," said Firebirds captain Max McCormick who scored the Firebirds' first goal of the night. "Sometimes you've just got to be OK with chipping pucks in and getting to them on the forecheck, because they really clog it up there. And when you do get opportunities in the offensive zone you need to take advantage of them."

And the Firebirds did that, scoring three times on those 15 shots including one offensive shift that coach Dan Bylsma and the players called the best of the year. A 30-second barrage of shots toward the net that had the crowd oohing and aahing and finally roaring when Devin Shore redirected a Connor Carrick slapshot into the net.

But sustained offensive activity in the Reign zone is going to continue to be difficult, don't expect any of those 40-shot games we've come to know and love from the Firebirds. That was the case during the year, too, as the two teams split the eight-game season series, but the Reign shut out the Firebirds twice and won another game 2-1. In the eight games they played, the Firebirds scored 17 goals, or just over two goals per game.

Wednesday's game was the first loss by the Reign this postseason. They had been 5-0 and only yielded six total goals.

"It's tough to get goals against the Reign. You have to try to establish the zone a couple of different ways and maybe not the ways you're accustomed to," Byslma said. "You can't always carry it in against that team into the offensive zone."

Firebirds hold on to win Game 1 over Ontario Reign

Ontario plays a constricting style, but they also have the size and physicality to pull it off. That's what the Firebirds' Connor Carrick noticed.

"They have a lot of long bodies, long sticks, clogging up the neutral zone it's kind of the way they play," Carrick said. He also said that having a lead for the bulk of the game also reduced the number of shots the Firebirds had as that "takes away your offensive impulse and has you kind of cheat toward the defense."

It's something to watch as the series progresses. Keep an eye on how the Firebirds attack that stacked up, clogged up, mucked up defense in the center of the ice. Do they find creases to carry it in. Do they chip it in more as McCormick explained, or do they do what they did on Wednesday? Take maximum advantage of the time they spend in the zone.

None of the players or coach Bylsma seemed particularly rattled or even surprised by the record-low number of shots recorded. Each game is different and it's a safe bet the Firebirds will produce more chances in the ensuing games, but for Bylsma, a win like this sends another message that he likes to see sent: His team can play a little defense, too.

"The game played out about how we anticipated, it was going to be close, not a lot of offense either way," he said. "Maybe we're not known for being a good defensive team — more known for scoring and skill and speed — but we've taken a lot of pride in our defensive game this year. And the games against these guys have been just that way. We haven't been able to get a ton of goals against them. By the same right we haven't given them a lot of goals either."

So Wednesday's series opener sort of laid out the blueprint that the series will probably follow. Expect low-scoring tight games. For the Firebirds to win the series, they'll have to figure out ways to get through the stack and the muck and the clog and emerge with enough goals.

In Game 1, they did.

Shad Powers is a columnist for The Desert Sun. Have a question about the Firebirds? Shoot him an e-mail at shad.powers@desertsun.com.

Pacific Division finals

Best-of-5 series between the Coachella Valley Firebirds and the Ontario Reign

Game 1: Firebirds 3, Reign 2 (Firebirds lead series 1-0)

Friday, May 17: Reign at Firebirds, 7 p.m.

Sunday, May 19: Firebirds at Reign, 7 p.m.

Friday, May 24: Firebirds at Reign, 7 p.m. (If nec.)

Sunday, May 26: Reign at Firebirds, 3 p.m. (If nec.)

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Firebirds aim to solve Ontario's stingy defense as series moves forward