REIGN FINAL – Reign 5, Gulls 1 – Wroblewski, Villalta

The Ontario Reign (4-0-0-1) finished off their season-opening five-game homestand with a 5-1 trouncing of the San Diego Gulls (0-3-0-0) on Dia de Muertos Night Saturday at Toyota Arena. Forward Tyler Madden and defender Helge Grans each had two assists in the victory, while five different skaters found the back of the net for the Reign and goaltender Matt Villalta turned aside 33 saves to improve to 3-0-0 on the year.

BOX SCORE

More from Head Coach John Wroblewski and Villalta below.

After five games, the Reign hold first place in the Pacific Division and second in the AHL with a .900 points percentage.

Ontario got going right away, posting two goals in the first seven minutes that came just 49 seconds apart from each other, while outshooting San Diego 9-3 in the first 10 minutes of action.

Aidan Dudas broke through for the opening goal of the game at 5:46, wristing a shot through traffic provided by Brett Sutter at the Gulls’ net. Assists on the play were credited to Grans and his defensive partner, Jacob Moverare.

Brayden Burke extended the early Reign advantage with his second goal in as many nights and third of the season less than a minute later. An unassisted strike, Burke deflected the puck from just inside the goal line up and over the back of San Diego netminder Olle Eriksson Ek.

Ontario added to the lead at 12:47 of the middle frame with two impressive passing plays. The third goal of the game came on the power play from an open Jaret Anderson-Dolan, who buried the shot for his first tally of the year with assists by Madden and TJ Tynan.

Then at 16:19, Austin Wagner found the back of the net from Grans and Madden to make it 4-0.

San Diego’s Vinni Lettieri cut the lead down to 4-1 with a power play goal that came just nine seconds into the third period, but the Gulls were unable to get any closer in the final frame.

Samuel Fagemo capped off the scoring in the final minute of action for Ontario, slamming home a rebound off an initial chance by Adam Johnson. Moverare added the second assist on the play.

The Reign and Gulls each finished 1-for-3 on the man-advantage in the game, while San Diego had the edge in shots on goal, 34-28.

Ontario is back in action next weekend when they travel to Abbotsford to face the Canucks in a two-game series beginning Friday, October 29 at 7 p.m. PST.

John Wroblewski

Matt Villalta

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