A game-winning goal in overtime by Nikita Nesterenko capped off a comeback victory for the San Diego Gulls (13-23-5-2), who defeated the Ontario Reign (26-15-2-1) by a final score of 5-4 on Saturday at Toyota Arena.
Francesco Pinelli and Joe Hicketts each posted a goal and an assist for Ontario in a losing effort, while Martin Chromiak and Jeff Malott also found the back of the net during the team’s annual Pink In The Rink Night.
The Reign out-shot San Diego during the contest, holding a 37-24 edge in chances that went on goal which included a 21-4 advantage in the second period.
Justin Bailey opened the scoring for the Gulls just 31 seconds into the opening frame, scoring on a breakaway to make it 1-0 for San Diego early on.
Ontario evened things up at 2:16 of the second when Pinelli found space in front of the net on a rush and dragged the puck around the pad of goaltender Calle Clang after securing a pass from Tyler Madden. Pinelli’s 11th tally of the campaign also had a secondary assist credited to defender Jack Millar, his eighth of the year.
The Reign then took the lead when Hicketts netted his second of the season at 5:54 of the middle frame, sweeping a shot into the goal to make it 2-1. Hicketts was open after Pinelli kicked him the puck at the side of the goal, while Samuel Helenius earned the second helper on the play.
San Diego tied the game at 2-2 less than a minute later when Jan Myšák redirected a pass past goaltender Erik Portillo on the Gulls’ first shot of the period at 6:35.
The game remained even until 8:50 of the third, when Chromiak one-timed a centering feed by Charles Hudon into the San Diego goal for his eighth strike of the season that also contained a second assist for Hicketts.
Ontario extended its lead at 11:27 of the third on a shot by Malott from the left-wing corner of the Gulls’ zone that found its way by Clang to make the score 4-2. The unassisted goal was Malott’s 13th of the year and his third in the last two games.
But San Diego wouldn’t go quietly and started their comeback after a late boarding penalty to Ontario’s Caleb Jones at 16:22 of the third. After pulling Clang for an extra attacker to make it a 6-on-4 advantage, Ryan Carpenter deflected a shot into the bottom of the net to cut the Reign’s lead down to a single goal at 4-3.
Then Sam Colangelo tied the contest for the Gulls with just 28 seconds remaining in regulation, scoring the team’s second strike with an empty net at the other end to even the game at 4-4.
Nesterenko struck with the winner at 1:35 of overtime, scoring on San Diego’s second shot of the additional session to give his team their second win of the season over Ontario, both of which have come in extra time.
The Gulls had the lone power play strike of the contest, going 1-for-2 on the man-advantage while the Reign ended at 0-for-3. Clang secured the victory by stopping 33 shots, while Portillo suffered the loss after turning out 19 attempts.
Postgame reactions from Pinelli and head coach Marco Sturm are below –
Francesco Pinelli
On tonight’s loss
Obviously we can’t give up a lead like that. I think we got to stick together a little more in those situations and pick each other up. But yeah, obviously not the result we wanted tonight.
On San Diego coming back
I think they just started pressuring a little more. We just couldn’t get pucks out, that resulted in the back of our net. We got to clean up that and regroup as a team. Come back next game and move forward.
On playing with Tyler Madden
I love playing with Mads. He has a very high hockey IQ. I played with him before, so it’s nothing new to me. I know we have chemistry, so it’s always fun playing with him.
On his success this season compared to last year
I think just carrying the puck a little more and shooting. I think those all play a factor for sure. Obviously, a second year in the league also helps, more confidence, more comfortable.
Marco Sturm
On his team’s play in tonight’s loss
We had control of the game, took a stupid penalty, did the same thing in Tucson, and didn’t get the job done. Another goal against. It’s unfortunate, but overall we just didn’t play good right from the start. We had a good stretch during the second period, we were up, we had full control. So we should have brought it home, but we didn’t. So many goals against in the last few minutes, in the last two games, that’s just unacceptable. Gotta look at some more video, but it’s frustrating for sure.
On their success in the 2nd period
We played ahead. We kept it in their zone quite a bit. We played simple. We played behind them. That’s all we want. That’s our game. In the first period, I think we had a lot of turnovers and they were dangerous on their rushes a bit. So we just had to make sure we control the puck a little bit better and stay out of the penalty box. So that was our goal in the third period, and the rest is history.
On the way the third period ended
We just have to be smarter. It starts with penalties. Then on the ice, feels like we’re always losing sticks and stuff like that. Doesn’t matter if it’s a goalie or defenseman. The guys got to dig in hard. It’s just not good enough. You’re out there for a reason and you gotta take advantage. Those are the things I think us coaches are gonna remember for next time, because end of the day, I just need guys to get it done. Two in a row, maybe it’s on me.
The Reign are back in action on Wednesday at Toyota Arena when they host the Tucson Roadrunners at 7 p.m.
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