Reign Stumble in 6-5 Shootout Loss to Eagles
February 22, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release
ONTARIO, Calif. - The Ontario Reign (30-15-3-5), four-time ECHL Pacific Division Champions and proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's 2014 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets, fell in a 6-5 shootout loss to the Colorado Eagles (34-18-0-2) in front of a sell-out crowd of 9,395 on Sunday afternoon at Citizens Business Bank Arena.
Taylor Vause put the Eagles ahead in the first period after he grabbed a rebound from Marc Nemec and shoveled the puck past Adam Brown at 3:13.
After Mike DiPaolo was sent to the box to serve a too many men on the ice bench minor, the Reign managed to kill the penalty, and as DiPaolo emerged from the box, Gasper Kopitar sprung DiPaolo for a breakaway pass. DiPaolo broke in on Colorado's Clarke Saunders and tied the score when he faked out Saunders and fired the puck through the goalie's pads at 9:15 for his second of the season, and first in a Reign uniform.
Maxim Kitsyn gave Ontario its first lead of the day when he took a pass from Matt Register and made his way into the offensive zone with Kopitar, eventually snapping the puck through the pads of Saunders at 17:03.
In the second period, the Eagles momentarily tied the score when Kyle Kraemer fed Vause, who stickhandled across the crease and then tapped the puck into the net at 4:38.
The Reign answered by taking the lead again when Norm Ezekiel grabbed a rebound from Kopitar and fired the puck through the pads of Saunders at 5:18. DiPaolo earned the secondary assist on the goal.
In the third period, the Reign extended their lead to three with goals from Rocco Carzo at 3:26 and Matt Register at 13:34.
Colorado, however, did not back down, replying with goals from Trent Daavettila at 15:08, Teigan Zahn at 15:40 and Greg Gardner at 19:21 to draw level with the Reign and force overtime.
In the extra period, Ontario successfully killed a four-minute double-minor for high-sticking served to Kyle Bigos, but the Eagles eventually prevailed in the shootout when Gardner scored the lone goal for Colorado, while Saunders stopped all five shooters for the Reign to secure the victory for the visitors.
Brown finished the night with 32 saves in the shootout loss; Saunders picked up the win with 22 saves.
Three Stars:
1. ONT - Mike DiPaolo
2. COL - Trent Daavettila
3. ONT - Matt Register
Reign Drops :
The Reign take on the Alaska Aces on Tuesday, Mar. 3 at 7 p.m. Immediately following the game against the Aces, fans can meet the Reign players during the Post-Game Player Party at Boston's Restaurant in Rancho Cucamonga, located at 11260 4th Street (at 4th & Milliken, across from the Ontario Mills Mall). Show your ticket stub and receive 15% off your food purchase that night!
Become a Reign Season Ticket Member today! Season tickets for the 2015-16 season - Ontario's first as a member of the American Hockey League and the primary developmental affiliate of the LA Kings - are on sale now. All Season Ticket Members also receive free parking, ticket exchange, account manager access, an invitation to an exclusive Season Ticket Member event, guaranteed giveaways (one per account) and more.
Season ticket packages start as low as $340, and include payment options for your convenience. For more information on Reign season tickets - along with a comprehensive list of Season Ticket Member benefits - please call 909-941-PUCK (7825) and click here to select and purchase your 2015-16 season seats today! Visit us at ontarioreign.com, follow the team @OntarioReign and visit ontarioreign.com/ahl for additional information.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from February 22, 2015
- Reign Stumble in 6-5 Shootout Loss to Eagles - Ontario Reign
- Bobkov's 30 save shutout holds Aces at bay in series - Alaska Aces
- Thunder Strike First But Fall to Idaho - Stockton Thunder
- Grizzlies, Bobkov Blank Alaska 4-0 for 5 of 6 Weekend Points - Utah Grizzlies
- Eagles Make Big Comeback, Defeat Reign in Shootout 6-5 - Colorado Eagles
- Oilers Outlast Americans to Earn Fourth Straight Win - Tulsa Oilers
- Road Warriors Fall to Stingrays 3-2 on Sunday - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Archibald's hat trick powers Nailers past K-Wings - Kalamazoo Wings
- Archibald, Nailers Trick Wings on Pink Ice - Wheeling Nailers
- Stingrays Fly Past Road Warriors for 10th Straight Victory - South Carolina Stingrays
- Beast Comeback Comes up Short - Brampton Beast
- Mallards Roll 6-3 - Quad City Mallards
- Tuzzolino Loaned to Rochester - Elmira Jackals
- Aces Sign F Erik Higby, D Scott Warner - Alaska Aces
- ECHL Transactions - February 22 - ECHL
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspension - ECHL
- Game Preview - Ontario Reign vs. Colorado Eagles - Ontario Reign
- K-Wings Add Kivisto as Face-Off Approaches - Kalamazoo Wings
- Gladiators Game Preview: Gladiators at Walleye - Atlanta Gladiators
- Thunder Goes Pink IX Concludes Today vs. Idaho - Stockton Thunder
- Nailers at Wings Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- Countdown to Face-Off: Kalamazoo Wings vs Wheeling Nailers - Kalamazoo Wings
- Hartford Calls up Defenseman Sean Escobedo - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Stingrays Game Preview: Stingrays Look to Extend Winning Streak on Family Day vs. Road Warriors - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - February 22 - ECHL
- Utah sneaks by on Hayes' third period winner - Alaska Aces
- Grizzlies Win 3-2 in Alaska Saturday - Utah Grizzlies
- Bryon Paulazzo Scores His First ECHL Goal but Thunder Fall to Idaho - Stockton Thunder
- Condors Shut Down Eagles, 4-0 - Bakersfield Condors
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.
