Tyler Madden scored in the third to force extra time and Glenn Gawdin was the lone skater to score in the shootout Friday night as the Ontario Reign (23-13-1-1) found their way to a 3-2 victory over the Bakersfield Condors (16-15-4-2) at Mechanics Bank Arena.
Martin Chromiak also factored into both Reign goals during regulation, scoring on a breakaway in the first before earning the first assist on Madden’s third period strike. Erik Portillo made the start between the pipes and stopped 22 shots in 65 minutes before denying all three of Bakersfield’s shootout attempts to pick up his 12th win of the year.
The Condors got off to a quick start, taking a 1-0 lead 2:22 into the opening period on a goal by Cameron Wright, who picked up his own rebound before beating Portillo with a wrist shot.
Ontario responded when Chromiak picked up a loose puck on the left wing boards and raced all the way to the Bakersfield net, putting a forehand shot up high past Collin Delia. Chromiak’s sixth goal of the season was unassisted at 4:01 of the first and evened up the score at 1-1.
But Bakersfield re-took the lead at the 5-minute mark of the period when Matthew Savoie converted on a 2-on-1 to make it a 2-1 game.
The Reign out-shot the Condors 14-5 in the second but they were unable to find an equalizer as Delia turned out each of the attempts.
Ontario had a four-minute power play at the end of the second that carried into the third on a double minor penalty to Bakersfield’s Ronnie Attard for high-sticking, but despite multiple opportunities, they were unable to convert.
Madden tied the game up at 2-2 with the lone goal of the third period, scoring for the second straight game at 10:11 of the frame off a pass on the right-wing boards by Chromiak to spring him free into the offensive zone. Madden’s seventh goal of the season also had a secondary assist credited to Jack Millar.
After tying the game, Shawn Element found himself in the penalty box for four minutes, also whistled for a high sticking double minor infraction. Six seconds after he was sent to the sin bin, Joe Hicketts sent the puck out of play from the defensive game and was escorted off for delay of game. Ontario responded by killing both the two-minute 5-on-3 chance for Bakersfield as well as the remainder of the second minor to Element, keeping themselves in the contest.
Neither club could win it at the end of regulation or in the five-minute overtime, where the Reign held a 3-1 shot-on-goal advantage.
Gawdin was the first shooter for Ontario in the skill session and converted to give his team the early edge. Portillo did the rest, stopping Seth Griffith and Savoie to preserve the win for the Reign.
Ontario had a 37-24 edge in shots on goal during the contest, highlighted by five attempts by Jeff Malott. Neither club was able to convert on special teams, with Bakersfield going 0-for-5 and the Reign ending at 0-for-4. Delia suffered the loss in goal for the Condors despite stopping 34 shots.
Postgame reactions from Chromiak and head coach Marco Sturm are below –
Martin Chromiak
On how it felt to get the win
It’s great. I mean, I don’t think we started in the right way. I think the first period, they outworked us, but from the second period, I thought our game was back, and we were doing everything better, we were winning battles, had a lot of chances, so we’re glad that we ended up with a win.
On his goal in the first period
I thought the puck was loose. I had a lot of speed and the D was flat-footed. He had no speed and it was just about the finish. I have to see the replay, I think I had the goalies pads first and went up so I’m glad it went in.
On Erik Portillo in the shootout
He’s great in the shootout, even in practice it’s hard to score on him, and we have guys who can who can finish so we knew we were going to win this game.
On his line with Pinelli and Fagemo in the game
We haven’t played together many games this year. I think we’re starting to find the chemistry and I think today was one of the nights where we had a lot of chances. We were close to each other, we were supporting each other, and it ended up with chance and chance, and I think it worked out pretty well today.
Marco Sturm
On starting slow but coming back to win
Pretty much, our legs and brain was still on the bus. It was a long ride, it seems like. But that happens sometimes, and we knew they’re going to come out hard. That’s their kind of style, and especially at home, that’s what they do. They didn’t really surprise us. It was just more up to us, we just were not ready for that. We got outskated and out battled, and unfortunately, we were down, but I thought only down the goal, so that that was the only positive for the first period.
On the way his team killed their third period penalties
I was actually, last game I really liked our kill, so I know we were heading to the right direction. When you go into three on five, then it’s a little bit a different story. But you could tell having a guy like Jonesy out there too, who can read the play really well with a good stick. Gawdin had some really good faceoffs, we had some really good blocks and Portillo did the rest. We didn’t give them much so I give those guys a lot of credit, killing this big kill off, because that would be really unfortunate if we would have a goal against in the last minute. I think guys overall deserve it the way they fought back to the game, and I thought we were for 40 minutes or 45 minutes, a better team.
On the play of Jack Millar on defense
I think he feels it too. He gets our trust. He’s been really consistent, I would say, whatever he does. You know, he’s not a fancy guy, so we just want him to play very solid and good defensively and he’s probably one of our best killers. So good for him, and that’s why he’s out there.
On Erik Portillo bouncing back after allowing two goals in the first to earn the win
He had a few tough games, just didn’t go the way he probably wanted, but he stayed very calm. Even there were some other breakaways, he saved it, and he was big for us. He was very, very good. One of his better games that I thought for him.
On Chromiak finishing his breakaway chance
Yeah, I didn’t like him at first on the goal against, the first one, but, he responded and finally scored on a breakaway. I think he’s been begging for one of those for a long, long time. And I know as a forward, you kind of get frustrated too sometimes, so glad he scored but then also, I think give him a lot of credit also on the end, on the pass, on Madden’s goal, he made a really nice pass. Usually when you score one, more will fall, and hopefully again tomorrow.
The Reign return home to Toyota Arena in Ontario for a Saturday night matchup with the Coachella Valley Firebirds at 6 p.m.
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