Reign Hold Thunder off for 3-2 Win
January 4, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release
ONTARIO, Calif. - The Ontario Reign (19-10-2-4), four-time Pacific Division Champions and proud affiliate of the NHL's 2014 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets, scored three first period goals on their way to a 3-2 victory over the Stockton Thunder (13-21-1-0) in front of a crowd of 8,723 on Sunday afternoon at Citizens Business Bank Arena.
The Reign struck first in the opening period on the power-play when Rocco Carzo dished a pass ahead to Geoff Walker at the right circle, and Walker snapped the puck to the far post past Shane Owen at 4:14. Judd Blackwater earned the secondary assist.
Ontario added to its lead 26 seconds later, as Gasper Kopitar knocked in the rebound from Derek Couture at 4:40, with Walker picking up the other helper.
Later in the first, Walker sent a pass to Brady Ramsay, whose shot glanced off the skirt of the net. Walker then picked up the puck and threw it back on goal, sneaking it between the post and Owen at 12:56.
Both teams played through a scoreless second frame, but Reign netminder Joe Cannata played sensationally and turned aside 11 Thunder chances in the stanza.
Stockton eventually solved Cannata with a power-play goal early in the third, when Ryan Hayes tipped a Peter Sivak pass through the goalie's pads at 1:29.
James Henry then pulled the Thunder to within one with a goal on the man advantage at 7:56 when he banked in a shot off the post.
A late power-play to Ontario allowed the Reign to close out the game in the offensive zone, as the team earned its season-high fourth consecutive win.
Cannata earned the victory with 28 saves; Owen took the loss with 16 stops.
Three Stars:
1. ONT - Geoff Walker
2. ONT - Gasper Kopitar
3. ONT - Joe Cannata
Reign Drops :
Wednesday's game against the Bakersfield Condors is 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.
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