ECHL Ontario Reign

Reign Hold on for 2-1 Win over Grizzlies

Published on December 13, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release


ONTARIO, Calif. - The Ontario Reign (13-8-1-3), four-time Pacific Division Champions and proud affiliate of the NHL's 2014 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets, hung on for a 2-1 victory over the Utah Grizzlies (9-10-2-2) in front of a crowd of 6,289 on Friday night at Citizens Business Bank Arena.

Following a penalty to Channing Boe in the first period, Ontario used the time on the power-play to distribute the puck in the offensive zone. Just as the penalty to Boe expired, Matt Register fired a slap shot from the right side that rocketed past Grizzlies goaltender Igor Bobkov at 15:52.

The Reign extended their lead in the second period following a failed clearing attempt by the Grizzlies that led to Nolan Julseth-White retrieving the puck at the far wall; the blueliner then fired a wrist shot that beat Bobkov to the glove side at 2:07.

Late in the middle frame, Norm Ezekiel was whistled for interference at 17:47, and then Ontario was called for too many men on the ice at 18:04, which led to a 5-on-3 penalty kill situation for the Reign. Jussi Olkinuora made several critical saves to deny the Grizzlies' power-play, and the period came to an end with much of the crowd applauding the netminder.

In the third period, Mathieu Aubin broke Olkinuora's shutout bid when he snapped a shot from the left wall that banked in off the far post at 6:15 to pull Utah to within one. Jacob Johnston and Matt Pelech earned the assists.

The Reign faced a late onslaught from the Grizzlies after Bobkov was pulled for the extra attacker, but Olkinuora shut the door the rest of the way.

Olkinuora earned the win with 28 saves; Bobkov took the loss with 17 stops.

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ECHL Stories from December 13, 2014


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