LIVE: Gulls Defeat Reign 2-1
Apr 15, 2021By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls defeated the Ontario Reign are 2-1 in overtime of tonight's game at Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, CA.
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Vinni Lettieri scored the game-winning, power-play goal with 1:41 seconds remaining in the extra session.
Martin Frk tied the game, converting on the power play with 7:41 remaining in regulation. A wrist shot from just above the faceoff circle worked its way through traffic and past Lukas Dostal.
The Gulls netminder stopped the 30 previous Reign shots.
Jacob Moverare picked up an assist, his fifth against San Diego this season. The rookie netminder has 1-5=6 points in six games against the Gulls this season.
Brett Sutter and the Reign thought they tied the game at 7:46 of the final frame, but officials waved off the goal.
The Reign captain collected a cross-ice pass from Devante Smith-Pelly and broke in on Dostal, charging into the crease as he looked to sneak a backhand shot past Dostal. He collided with the netminder and officials immediately waved off the potential game-tying tally.
Dostal stole the show in the middle frame.
The rookie netminder absorbed a strong push from the Reign, stopping all 21 shots Ontario fired on net.
He's made 23 saves through 40 minutes.
Trevor Zegras and Vinni Lettieri opened the scoring with a highlight-reel tally with 8:41 left in the opening period.
Lettieri, who returned from the Anaheim Ducks taxi squad before puck drop, sent a pass between his legs to a streaking Zegras, who moved in alone on J-F Berube. The rookie flipped his stick over, using the toe of the blade to chip a shot up and over the Reign netminder for his eighth goal of the season.
Zegras continues to play well in his return to the American Hockey League, with seven points (4-3=7) in five games.
San Diego held Ontario to just two shots on net in the first period, setting a new season high for fewest shots allowed in the opening frame.
Tonight is the second and final game of a home-and-home series between the Southern California rivals. San Diego took the first matchup, 7-4, on Tuesday night at FivePoint Arena. Trevor Zegras and Chase De Leo each recorded four-point performances (2-2=4) as the Gulls pulled away in the third period for their sixth win over the Reign. Benoit-Olivier Groulx (1-2=3) and Andrew Poturalski (1-1=2) also registered multi-point efforts as the Gulls scored at least six goals for the fifth time in the last eight games.
San Diego dominated the series thus far, winning six of seven matchups, including each of the first five contests. The Gulls own points in 12 of their last 14 games against the Reign (12-2-2-0) and wins in six of seven meetings this season (6-1-0-0). The Gulls outscored the Reign 34-22 and killed 30-of-32 (93.8%) Ontario power plays.
San Diego’s offense continued to produce in bunches, as Tuesday marked the fifth time over the past eight games the Gulls scored at least six goals. They lead the American Hockey League in total goals (104) and power-play goals (24). San Diego won nine of its last 11 games, averaging 4.8 goals per game and outscoring its opponents 53-34 over that span.
Ontario enters play tonight sitting last in the Pacific Division by point percentage (.375). Ontario continues to struggle on home ice, losing three straight home contests for a 5-7-3-0 record.