Reign Open Division Finals with 3-2 OT Thriller
May 3, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release
Judd Blackwater of the Ontario Reign vs. the Utah Grizzlies
(Ontario Reign)
ONTARIO, Calif. - The Ontario Reign (5-3), four-time ECHL Pacific Division Champions and proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's 2014 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets, opened their Pacific Division Finals matchup with the Utah Grizzlies (4-3) with an exciting 3-2 overtime victory in front of a crowd of 3,188 on Sunday afternoon at Citizens Business Bank Arena.
Ontario opened the scoring in the first period when David Rutherford banged home a shot past Igor Bobkov at 2:37, with Judd Blackwater and Garry Nunn assisting.
Ryan Hayes evened the score for the Grizzlies at 12:44 on the power-play, as the forward walked in from the left side of the Ontario net and slid the puck through the pads of Jussi Olkinuora at 12:44.
Alex Krushelnyski pulled Utah ahead with a drive to the net at 12:04 of the second period, lifting a backhand shot past the glove of Olkinuora.
The Reign responded on the power-play, as Matt Register unleashed a rocket from the right point that beat Bobkov above his blocker at 17:36.
The third period yielded no change in the score, despite Ontario outshooting Utah by a 12-6 margin in the frame, forcing overtime.
Ontario prevailed in the first extra session when Blackwater took the puck at the right circle and fired a wrist shot with laser-like accuracy into the top corner of the net at 8:30, giving Ontario the victory and the series lead.
Olkinuora picked up the win with 22 saves; Bobkov took the loss with 22 stops.
Three Stars:
1. ONT - Judd Blackwater
2. ONT - Matt Register
3. ONT - David Rutherford
Images from this story
 Judd Blackwater of the Ontario Reign vs. the Utah Grizzlies |
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ECHL Stories from May 3, 2015
- Reign Open Division Finals with 3-2 OT Thriller - Ontario Reign
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