Weekly Reign Wrap-up: Heartbreaking Loss Followed by Solid Win
- Updated: December 5, 2017
After a heartbreaking last-second loss to the dastardly San Diego Gulls, the Ontario Reign bounced back with a win to split its two games of the week, landing them at 9-8-0-1 and 19 points, in fifth place in the Pacific Division. The team next takes the ice against the Stockton Heat at 7 p.m., Friday, December 15 at the Citizens Business Bank Arena.
In the December 1 loss to the Gulls, the Reign staged an incredible comeback when defenseman Kevin Gravel scored with 25 seconds to go in the third to tie the match 2-2, only to miss out on overtime by giving up a goal 23 seconds later, losing it all 3-2.
After a scoreless first, Reign’s Stepan Falkovsky started the scoring 3:04 into the second. The Gulls scored the next two goals, taking the lead 1:26 into the third. It was Gravel’s goal with 25 seconds left on a power play that had many in the arena believing we were all overtime bound. But Giovanni Fiore’s picked up a loose puck and ended the game with 2.3 seconds to go. And no, there was no more scoring after that.
On December 3, the Reign went up against Pacific Division-leading Tucson Roadrunners and got the best of the 4-2. Even though the team was outshot 40-21, Reign goalie Jack Campbell saved 38 of those shots to secure the victory. Forward T.J. Hensick scored twice in the Reign’s bid to salvage a win during the week.
It sure didn’t hurt in the standings as well. Next up another Pacific Division leader Stockton Heat.
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