REIGN PREVIEW 12/13 – Ontario at Colorado

WHO: Ontario Reign (15-7-1-0) at Colorado Eagles (16-6-0-1)
WHAT: AHL REGULAR-SEASON GAME #23/72
WHEN: Saturday, December 13 @ 6:05 Pacific
WHERE: Blue Arena – Loveland, CO
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: FloHockey – AUDIO: Reign Radio – TWITTER: @ReignInsider & @OntarioReign

 TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Reign wrap up a back-to-back series in Colorado tonight looking to extend their win streak to five-games. A regulation win tonight for the Reign would tie the Eagles 33 points for first place in the pacific division and second in the western conference.

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Reign pulled out a 3-2 victory last night vs. the Eagles with all five goals coming in the third period. Tristan Nielsen scored his team leading 11^th of the season 39 seconds into the frame, a four-on-four goal, before the Reign potted three unanswered. Taylor Ward scored his team leading 11^th of the campaign 2:11 later before Ontario went on a four-minute power-play at 9:19. Glenn Gawdin snapped a 10-game goal less skid with a pair of man advantage strikes 33 seconds apart from another making it 3-1 with 10:03 remaining. Jayson Megna got the Eagles within one with his 10^th of the year with 4:50 to play.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: With the victory last night over Colorado, Ontario has now won both games in the head-to-head season series by final scores of 3-2. The Reign went are 4-for-13 on the power-play as Samuel Bolduc has scored a goal and added two assists while Glen Gawdin has two goals and a helper. Ontario is 7-for-7 on the penalty kill.

GONE STREAKING: The Reign have won a season high four straight games now where they’ve outscored their opponents 17-7. Forward Cole Guttman stretched his point-streak to seven games (3-5-8) where he has tallied an assist in four straight. Forward Andre Lee notched an assist last night enhancing his point-streak to a season high four games (2-3-5) while forwards Taylor Ward (1-1-2) and Glenn Gawdin (2-1-3) have points in back-to-back games.

The win marked the fifth straight game Ontario has outshot their opponents after outshooting Colorado 33-29. The Reign are averaging 26.6 shots for per game while allowing an average of 22.2 in their last five contests. It was just the fourth time all season Colorado has been outshot in a contest.

Last evening was the fifth straight one-goal game victory for the Reign as they improved to 8-2-0-1 in games determined by one-score.

The Reign finished 2-for-2 on the penalty kill and are now a perfect 10-for-10 in their last four contests.

COPLEY CONTINUES CLICKING: After starting the season (2-5-0) with a 3.84 goals against average and .870 save percentage goaltender Pheonix Copley has won five of his last six games with a 2.33 GAA and .906 SV%. The veteran has won three straight contests making 64 saves on 70 shots.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES: Colorado has now lost back-to-back games on home ice for the first time this season as they’re 9-4-0 at Blue Arena. The power-play struggles continue for the Eagles as they’re just 1-for-24 in their last eight games after going 0-for-2 last evening. Tristen Nielsen continues to lead the Eagles offense as he has goals in back-to-back games and six in his last seven games while T.J. Tynan is tied for the league lead after notching his 22^nd assist last night. Colorado had a 14-2-0 record when scoring first prior to last night and a 2-0-0 record when tied going into the third period.