Cole Krygier and Alex Laferriere each scored their first professional goals in the third period for the Ontario Reign (33-29-5-1), but the team was unable to hold on to a late lead and suffered a 4-3 overtime loss to the Abbotsford Canucks (38-23-3-4) in the first game of a weekend series at the Abbotsford Centre on Friday night. Lias Andersson also had a goal and an assist for the Reign in a losing effort, while TJ Tynan posted a pair of assists.
Ontario’s point earned, combined with an overtime loss by the San Jose Barracuda to Colorado, clinched the team a spot in the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs. The Reign have four games remaining in the 2022-23 regular season and can finish as high as fifth place in the Pacific Division.
The goals by Krygier and Laferriere both came within a six-minute span of each other in the third period to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead for Ontario. Krygier’s tally came on a wrist shot from the slot off a drop pass by Tynan, while Laferriere’s strike came on a breakaway set up off a stretch pass by Jacob Moverare.
Andersson also recorded the second assist on Krygier’s goal in addition to scoring the first tally of the night for Ontario to get his club on the board at 15:26 of the second period. Andersson’s goal came off a redirect of a shot by Tobie Bisson and was his 29th of the season, which leads the team. He now has 55 total points on the year which is second-most behind Tynan, who has 76.
The Canucks got on the board first and led by a 1-0 score after the opening period on a goal off a loose rebound in the Ontario end by Linus Karlsson at 18:29.
Karlsson added to Abbotsford’s lead with his second of the game at 11:45 of the middle period.
After Ontario took control of the contest in the third, the Canucks evened things back up in the final minute when Kyle Rau converted a rebound at the side of the net to make it a 3-3 game with 26 seconds remaining.
Abbotsford won the contest 22 seconds into overtime on a shot by Jett Woo, coming on a rush into the zone during 3-on-3 play. It was the only shot on goal recorded during the extra session.
The Reign outshot the Canucks 34-27 overall in the game, including holding an edge in each of the three periods. Neither team converted on the man-advantage, each finishing 0-for-2 on a pair of power play opportunities.
Arturs Silovs earned the win for Abbotsford in goal with 31 saves, while Matt Villalta suffered the loss after stopping 23 shots.
Marco Sturm
Cole Krygier
The Reign close out the series in Abbotsford on Saturday night with the final contest between the two teams set to begin at 7 p.m.
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