Reign Wrap-Up: Campbell Strong in Ontario’s Loss

By Jim Ellis
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Updated: November 21, 2016

On a light week where the lone Ontario Reign game, on Friday, November 18, saw the team play its sixth overtime game in 12 outings, ultimately losing 2-1 to the Stockton Heat at Stockton Arena. The 5-3-4-0 Reign will next play at 7 p.m., Wednesday, November 23 against the Heat at Citizens Business Bank Arena.

A main highlight for the Reign – besides a first period goal from forward Justin Auger – was the play of goalie Jack Campbell (2-1-1) who recorded 32 saves on 34 shots. Campbell, who has gone back and forth between the NHL affiliate Los Angeles Kings, was reassigned to the Reign earlier in the day, resulting in the Reign releasing goalie Anders Lindback from his PTO.

Each team registered a goal in the first period, starting with Auger’s goal at 14:50, from Brett Sutter and Mike Amadio. Coming off the face-off, Sutter slid the puck over to Auger, alone in front of the net, who buried the puck over Heat David Rittich’s glove. With 4.6 seconds left in the first period, the Heat’s forward Brandon Bollig fired a rocket wrist-shot over Campbell’s blocker to tie the game. After a scoreless second and third, it only took 1:02 into overtime to end the contest. A flip pass by the Heat’s Matt Bailey caught a streaking Morgan Klimchuk whose breakaway shot was stopped by Campbell, and rested loose underneath his pads. An advantageous Bailey charged in past the Reign’s Paul Ladue to poke in the loose puck.

Said Ontario coach Mike Stothers, through Reign Insider Lindsay Czarnecki, “It was a good hockey game. It was fast-paced, end-to-end action. Hard fought contest all the way. Would have been nice to get that second point.”

The Heat outshot Ontario 34-26, stopping the Reign’s league-leading power play on three attempts. The Reign (14 points) are now in fifth place in the Pacific Division behind top runners Tucson Roadrunners and Texas Stars, each with 18 points.