LIVE: Gulls Fall To Reign 7-4
May 7, 2021By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls fell to the Ontario Reign 7-4 in the third period of tonight's game at FivePoint Arena.
THIRD PERIOD RECAP
Adam Johnson finished a hat trick with an empty-net goal with 2:02 remaining in regulation, scoring the Reign's seventh goal of the game.
It's the first American Hockey League hat trick for the Hibbing, MN native, who also established a new career-high in points (3-1=4).
Bryce Kindopp brought San Diego back within two, scoring on the power play with 5:28 left in the game. Hunter Drew blasted the puck from the point, and Kindopp found the rebound by Matthew Villalta, sliding the puck into an open net for his eighth goal of the season.
The tally extended his point streak to four games (3-3=6).
Aidan Dudas put an end to the Gulls run, scoring a shorthanded goal with 6:16 left in regulation to give the Reign a three-goal lead.
Alex Limoges brought San Diego within two with 9:58 remaining in regulation.
Chase De Leo fired a shot toward the net, and Limoges dug it out from the defenseman's skates and moved it to his forehand. He slid a shot past Reign netminder Villalta for his eighth goal of the season.
The rookie forward also extended his point streak to five games (5-2=7).
Andrew Poturalski, who collected an assist on the tally, earned a multi-point night. He leads the AHL in assists and scoring (9-29=38).
De Leo cut into the deficit earlier in the game, bringing the Gulls within three at 5:30 of the final frame.
The veteran wing alertly jumped into a passing lane, intercepting a Reign clearing attempt and cutting toward the net. His quick shot beat Villalta through the legs for De Leo's 14th goal of the season.
The La Mirada, CA native has seven goals against Ontario this season.
SECOND PERIOD RECAP
Johnson and Arthur Kaliyev proved a lethal duo in the second period, turning a one-goal Ontario advantage into a four-goal cushion after 40 minutes.
Kaliyev made an impact on the game early in the middle frame, collecting a goal and assist in just under six minutes to push Ontario's lead to three.
The rookie took advantage of a friendly bounce just a minute into the middle frame to score a power-play goal. A shot from the point deflected off the glass behind the net and came to the front of the crease, where Kaliyev alertly swatted it past a lunging Eriksson Ek for his 12th goal of the season.
Johnson extended Ontario's lead to three at 5:51 of the period, picking up his second goal in as many games. The Reign forward joined the rush late, collecting a pass from Kaliyev and firing a wrist shot past Eriksson Ek from the slot for his third goal of the season.
Poturalski put the Gulls on the board, scoring on the power play with 6:27 left in the period to bring the Gulls within two.
Kodie Curran found the winger in the low circle, and Poturalski did the rest, picking a corner and ripping a shot past Matthew Villalta for his ninth goal of the season.
Martin Frk restored Ontario's three-goal advantage, blasting a slap shot past Eriksson Ek with 5:20 left in the middle frame.
Johnson scored his second goal of the period with 1:05 left, snapping a loose puck past Olle Eriksson Ek to give Ontario a four-goal lead.
Johnson's three-point performance (2-1=3) ties a career high (last: Oct. 28, 2016 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Hershey).
Kaliyev's three-point game (1-2=3) ties a career-high, joining his Mar. 17 performance against Tucson.
FIRST PERIOD RECAP
Samuel Fagemo opened the scoring, converting on a 2-on-1 rush for his eighth goal of the season with 9:45 left in the first period.
Mikey Eyssimont - who scored a natural hat trick to key Ontario's comeback effort in Wednesday's 6-4 loss - picked up the primary assist.