Reign Earn Point in 4-3 OT Loss to Eagles
December 20, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release
ONTARIO, Calif. - The Ontario Reign (13-9-2-3), four-time Pacific Division Champions and proud affiliate of the NHL's 2014 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets, rallied in regulation but ultimately fell in overtime to the Colorado Eagles (15-9-0-0) by a 4-3 score in front of a crowd of 5,757 on Friday night at Citizens Business Bank Arena.
Both teams played to a scoreless first period, with the Eagles holding a 13-11 shot advantage, but Jussi Olkinuora managed to keep Colorado's high-flying offense at bay.
The Eagles eventually solved Olkinuora in the second frame, when Brett Kulak threw the puck on net from the left circle at 4:55, with Nathan Moon and Greg Gardner assisting. Kulak's shot made its way through a screen to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Ontario answered at 8:45, when Gasper Kopitar sent the puck to the blueline for Nolan Julseth-White, who fed a pass into the slot for Judd Blackwater, who snapped the puck past the glove of Clarke Saunders at 8:45.
Colorado pulled ahead at 11:55 after Collin Bowman kept play alive in the offensive zone and passed the puck ahead for Moon. Moon drove to the net and faked out Olkinuora to give the Eagles a 2-1 edge.
A third period slashing call to Gardner sent the Reign to the power-play, and Ontario evened the score at 2-2 after Rocco Carzo recovered his own blocked shot and buried it past Saunders short-side at 5:59, with Dennis Brown and Tyler Scofield assisting.
Colorado responded with a goal at 15:44 when Mark Nemec fired a one-timer that glanced off a Reign defender and into the net just as two Ontario penalties expired.
Late in the frame, Olkinuora was pulled for an extra attacker, and the gamble paid off for Ontario when Blackwater's shot between the hash marks ricocheted into the air and dropped into the net at 19:01; Brown and Tristan King earned the assists on Blackwater's tying goal.
Despite Blackwater forcing overtime for Ontario, the Eagles ultimately prevailed when Nemec hammered home Brock Nixon's rebound at 2:21.
Olkinuora took the overtime loss with 31 saves; Saunders earned the victory with 24 stops.
Three Stars:
1. COL - Mark Nemec
2. COL - Brett Kulak
3. ONT - Dennis Brown
Click here to view the box score.
Reign Drops :
On Saturday, the Reign will host the Eagles at 6 p.m.
Sunday's game against Colorado at 3 p.m. is also Jeffrey Hallock Night. The Reign will recognize this longtime season ticket holder, who won a night in his honor.
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