Reign Weekly Wrap-up: It’s a Wrap, Ready for the Second Season

By Jim Ellis
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: April 17, 2017

The last week of the season completed Saturday, with the Ontario Reign finishing 36-21-10-1, third in the Pacific Division behind the division-leading San Jose Barracuda and the San Diego Gulls, the latter being the team that the Reign will face in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs on Friday, April 21 in San Diego.

Here we go…

But first, how did we get here? Last week, the Reign dropped its last two games of the season versus the Gulls but took the first game of the week, a 3-2 overtime win against the Stockton Heat on April 19. On that Wednesday, Philippe Maillet scored 2:11 into overtime giving the Reign its victory. Goalie Jeff Zatkoff took the win after making 31 saves on 33 shots. Mike Amadio notched a goal and an assist in the win.

Next came the Gulls weekend. On Friday night, the Reign finally got its first shootout of the season. And lost it 3-2. Although out-shooting the Gulls 31-14, the shootout saw San Diego score on each of its shots against goalie Jeff Zatkoff (12 measly saves), while the Reign tallied with only two, from Jonny Brodzinki and Adrian Kempe. Though missing his shot in the shootout, Teddy Purcell shined in the game with one goal and two assists.

The next day, Brodzinski scored two goals, but the team could only muster one more goal and lost 5-3. Goalie Jack Campbell (23 saves on 28 shots) concluded with a 31-15-6 season record, the most wins in the AHL. Now it’s back at it with the Gulls, for the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Through the Reign Insider, Campbell said of the Gulls, “They’re a good team. It’s going to take sixty minutes of our game to beat ’em and that’s what we plan on doing, just sticking to our game and having success that way.”

Said Brodzinski, “We’ve played these guys a lot of times this year. It’s a very familiar team. I know it will be a different lineup than what they’re playing with and what we’re playing with too. It’s definitely going to be a fun weekend.”

Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things Ontario Reign and the rest of the LA sports teams! All Cali, all the time!