Reign Storm Back in 5-4 Shootout Win over Steelheads
December 26, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release
BOISE, Idaho - The Ontario Reign (15-10-2-3), four-time Pacific Division Champions and proud affiliate of the NHL's 2014 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets, overcame a two-goal deficit for a 5-4 shootout victory over the Idaho Steelheads (17-10-1-2) in front of a crowd of 4,735 on Friday night at CenturyLink Arena.
The Steelheads opened the scoring during a two-on-one situation that developed between Wade MacLeod and Brett Robinson; MacLeod eventually finished the play by snapping a shot past the glove of Jussi Olkinuora at 8:39.
A penalty to the Reign sent Idaho to the power-play, and the team capitalized with the man advantage when Jason Bast sent a centering pass into the slot and Ludwig Karlsson fired a shot into the top right corner of the net at 13:31.
In the second period, Ralfs Freibergs' point shot would carom off the glass behind the Steelheads net into the right corner of the offensive zone. Maxim Kitsyn would pass the puck to Derek Couture at the right circle, and the Reign captain hammered home a shot that beat Olivier Roy at 4:14.
Idaho re-established its two-goal lead with another power-play goal at 6:38, when Robinson redirected Alex Belzile's slap shot from the left circle.
The Reign answered when Nolan Julseth-White entered the offensive zone and dropped the puck to Couture, who feathered a pass into the slot for Gasper Kopitar, who in turn wristed a shot underneath Roy's glove at 12:57.
The Steelheads again responded when Troy Vance picked up a loose puck in the slot and buried a shot past Olkinuora at 14:56.
Ontario closed out the middle frame with a power-play goal when Rocco Carzo knocked in the puck at the right post past a sprawled Roy at 19:45; Kitsyn and Dennis Brown received the assists.
In the third, the Reign evened the score at 4-4 when Vincent Arseneau redirected a shot from the blueline at 8:27 for his first goal of the season, with Kyle Bigos and Julseth-White assisting.
Arseneau's goal forced overtime, but neither team scored to send the match to a shootout. Ontario picked up goals from Geoff Walker and Dennis Brown, while Olkinuora denied all four shooters he faced to secure the first shootout victory of the season for the Reign.
Olkinuora picked up the win with 31 saves; Roy took the defeat with 25 stops.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from December 26, 2014
- Ontario overcomes early deficit to edge Idaho - Idaho Steelheads
- MAVERICKS WIN 5-3 OVER RUSH ON THE ROAD - Kansas City Mavericks
- Reign Storm Back in 5-4 Shootout Win over Steelheads - Ontario Reign
- Thunder Strike First but Fall 3-1 - Stockton Thunder
- Rush Fall to Mavs 5-3 - Rapid City Rush
- Eagles Boot Grizzlies, 4-3 - Colorado Eagles
- Colorado Holds on 4-3 over Utah - Utah Grizzlies
- Wong Nets Hat Trick as IceMen Blitz Komets - Evansville IceMen
- Royals Stretch Win Streak to Four in Elmira, 5-2 - Reading Royals
- Oilers Skid Reaches Six Games with 5-3 Loss to Americans - Tulsa Oilers
- Americans Big Third Period Leads to 5-3 Win over Tulsa - Allen Americans
- Fuel Edge Past Cyclones, 4-3 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Czarnik, Cullen Shoot Down Cyclones, 4-3 - Indy Fuel
- Clark Scores Twice, Fights Once, in 5-3 Win over Gwinnett - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Gladiators Driven out by I-85 Rivals, 5-3 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Jackals Fall Short in Soldout Contest, 5-2 - Elmira Jackals
- Condors vs. Stockton Tonight - Bakersfield Condors
- Greg Miller Returns to Orlando - Orlando Solar Bears
- ECHL Transactions - December 26 - ECHL
- Thunder Ink Former 16th Overall Pick - Stockton Thunder
- Game Preview - Ontario Reign at Idaho Steelheads - Ontario Reign
- Preview: Road Warriors Open 12-Game Home Stand Tonight - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Cannata Reassigned to Reign - Ontario Reign
- Fullerton Returns to Elmira from Rochester - Elmira Jackals
- Cyclones Game Preview - Cincinnati at Indy - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Posa Signing Highlights Fuel Roster Moves - Indy Fuel
- Gameday: Thunder at Bakersfield - Stockton Thunder
- Reign Loan Parent to Team Canada - Ontario Reign
- Jackals Host Royals with ZOOperstars in Town - Elmira Jackals
- K-Wings Sova Loaned to Chicago Wolves - Kalamazoo Wings
- Montreal Canadiens Reassign Second Round Draft Pick Dalton Thrower to the Beast - Brampton Beast
- The Royal Road Ahead: Reading at Elmira Jackals (Friday, December 26) - Reading Royals
- Young Stars to Skate at Winterfest - Toledo Walleye
- Reichard Returns from AHL Loan - Indy Fuel
- ECHL Today - December 26 - ECHL
- Grizzlies, KMYU TV Begin Broadcast Schedule Saturday - Utah Grizzlies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
