ECHL Ontario Reign

Reign Cruise Past Grizzlies 5-0

March 15, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release


ONTARIO, Calif. - The Ontario Reign (34-17-4-5), four-time ECHL Pacific Division Champions and proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's 2014 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets, were led by Jussi Olkinuora's 25 saves for his second career shutout, as they blanked the Utah Grizzlies (30-24-5-3) by a 5-0 score in front of a crowd of 9,395 - their seventh sell-out of the season - on Sunday afternoon at Citizens Business Bank Arena.

The Reign opened the scoring in the first period when Josh Brittain chased after the puck behind the Grizzlies net and sent it back to Derek Couture, who beat Igor Bobkov at 4:54.

Judd Blackwater gave Ontario a two-goal edge when David Rutherford retrieved the puck just off to the right of the cage and dropped it into the slot for a streaking Blackwater, who roofed it past Bobkov at 18:53.

Olkinuora, meanwhile, made a game-high 15 saves in the opening frame.

The Reign continued to find the back of the net in the second period, as Everett Sheen broke in on Bobkov and initially rang a shot off the right post, but swung to the left of Bobkov and batted home his own rebound at 11:21.

Rutherford helped set up another great chance for Ontario while the Reign went to the power-play. After Alex Krushelnyski nearly broke in on a shorthanded chance for Utah, Rutherford hustled back to swipe the puck away from Krushelnyski, and then carried the puck up the ice, split the Utah defense, and left the puck in the slot for Garry Nunn, who slid the puck through the legs of Bobkov at 15:41.

The Grizzlies changed goaltenders to start the third period, as Eric Levine took over in net. Ontario did not back down, outshooting Utah by a 10-2 margin in the final stanza, one of which capped the scoring when Blackwater scored on the power-play at 11:18, with assists from Couture and Nunn.

The Reign knuckled down late in the match during a 5-on-3 penalty kill, and helped Olkinuora close out the game to earn his first shutout of the season and second in his pro career; Bobkov took the loss with 15 stops in 40 minutes of action, while Levine made nine saves in 20 minutes of relief.

Three Stars:

1. ONT - Jussi Olkinuora

2. ONT - Judd Blackwater

3. ONT - David Rutherford

Click here to view the box score.

Reign Drops :

The Reign host the Alaska Aces on Wednesday, Mar. 18 for a Mountain Mike's Pizza 2-for-1 Wednesday. Stop by your local participating Mountain Mike's Pizza to pick up your 2-for-1 ticket vouchers with any purchase.

Become a Reign Season Ticket Member today! Season tickets for the 2015-16 season - Ontario's first as a member of the American Hockey League and the primary developmental affiliate of the LA Kings - are on sale now. All Season Ticket Members also receive free parking, ticket exchange, account manager access, an invitation to an exclusive Season Ticket Member event, guaranteed giveaways (one per account) and more.

Season ticket packages start as low as $340, and include payment options for your convenience. For more information on Reign season tickets - along with a comprehensive list of Season Ticket Member benefits - please call 909-941-PUCK (7825) to select and purchase your 2015-16 season seats today!

Visit us at ontarioreign.com, follow the team @OntarioReign and visit ontarioreign.com/ahl for additional information. And be sure to listen to all home games and select road matches for free via Spreaker.

Check out the Ontario Reign Statistics



ECHL Stories from March 15, 2015


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