Despite holding a 35-23 edge in shots on goal, the Ontario Reign’s (19-9-0-1) third period comeback came up short as the team was unable to overcome a third period deficit and fell 4-3 to the Coachella Valley Firebirds (16-11-1-4) on Saturday night at Toyota Arena.
All three Reign goals came from players who also scored the previous night before during a win over San Diego on Friday, with Jack Studnucka, Samuel Fagemo and Jeff Malott each finding the back of the net while Charles Hudon returned to the lineup and earned two assists.
The loss snapped a stretch where Ontario had earned points from 10 straight games and was their first home defeat in over a month after earning six consecutive wins.
Jani Nyman put the Firebirds on the board first with an unassisted goal that came at 11:01 of the opening period. Coachella Valley had an 11-6 edge in shots on net during the first frame.
Ontario rebounded with 18 shots on net in the second but fell further behind after Lleyton Roed netted a power play goal for the Firebirds at 1:17 and later Ryan Winterton scored to make it 3-1 at 16:14.
Studnicka got the Reign offense going with his seventh on the year off a feed in front by Caleb Jones moments after an Ontario man-advantage ended at 4:30 of the second. Tyler Madden also factored into the play with the secondary helper.
Coachella Valley started off the third by extending their advantage to largest gap of the night when Max McCormick found the back of the net at 1:22 to make it 4-1.
But the Reign didn’t back down and climbed back into the game, chipping away at the Firebirds’ lead with back-to-back tallies by Fagemo and Malott. First, Fagemo made it a 4-2 contest at 4:15 of the final frame when he netted his 18th goal of the season on the power play from Reilly Walsh and Hudon. Fagemo’s goal total now ranks third-best in the AHL.
Then Malott buried a rebound off an initial shot by Glenn Gawdin that was kicked out by goaltender Nikke Kokko at 12:36. Hudon, who was playing in his first AHL contest since Dec. 21 after representing Hockey Canada at the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland, also factored into the goal that made it 4-3 with the second assist.
Ontario had multiple looks to get even but were unable to put a fourth tally past Kokko in the closing minutes of action despite out-shooting Coachella Valley 11-6 in the third.
Kokko stopped 32 shots in the game for the Firebirds to pick up the win, while Erik Portillo got the start for Ontario and denied 19 attempts in defeat. Coachella Valley converted on its only power play of the contest, while Ontario finished the night at 1-for-4 on the man-advantage.
Postgame reactions from Fagemo and head coach Marco Sturm are below –
Samuel Fagemo
On tonight’s bounces
It was a tough game. It was a back to back game tonight. It was a tight game for 60 minutes. I think we started a little sloppy but then we stuck to it and created a lot of good chances in the third period. It stinks to lose but there were positives too.
On his powerplay goal
It was a nice feeling, for sure. I think our unit has not been the greatest but we’re just going to stick to it, work hard, and be patient. It was a nice feeling to get a powerplay goal tonight.
On the team’s effort
Credit to the whole team and the whole staff. We just keep on going and trust our instincts. Keep on working and the goals will come.
On the team’s belief
I think we played a really good third period. We scored two goals there and pushed in the end on the six on five. So that shows good team spirit. We just have to stick to it next game.
Marco Sturm
On being down by three in the third
Anything could happen but it was three goals against a good team. You can’t have that. Yeah, we had more shots but I thought the details were missing today. That’s what cost us the game.
On the puck bouncing at key moments on the game
At the end of the day, it always goes both ways. We’ve been addressing that for a long time. It’s our passing that’s not good. It starts with our breakouts, our D, our forwards, you name it. It kind of stops you right away. You’re going to have some lucky and unlucky bounces either way, but the other team does too. That’s an area we have to improve. I think the young kids don’t know the importance of how big of a deal it is, having a good pass. I always thought, since I’ve been here with the Reign or in general within the minors, that the biggest difference between NHL and AHL is the passing.
On Coachella’s timely goals
We came back but I think they scored every time at the right time. I feel like the first period, the second period, we were on it, and then they scored end of the second and right away in the third. I felt like they scored exactly the way they wanted to score. We just couldn’t fight back. Unfortunate today but we will get some rest and regroup to get ready for Henderson.
The Reign hit the road for a trip to Henderson and a matchup against the Silver Knights on Wednesday at Lee’s Family Forum beginning at 7 p.m.
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