REIGN FINAL – Reign 4, Firebirds 2 – Malott, Jones

A three-goal second period helped the Ontario Reign (16-8-0-0) dig out of an early two-goal hole and come back to defeat the Coachella Valley Firebirds (13-11-1-3) by a score of 4-2 on Saturday night at Toyota Arena.

The victory extended Ontario’s current winning streak to six games, the longest active run in the AHL, with all of the decisions in come-from-behind fashion. Jacob Doty led the way with a goal and an assist, while Charles Hudon and Tyler Madden each picked up a pair of helpers.

BOX SCORE

The Firebirds took control of the action in the opening period and found the back of the net twice before the first intermission.

Lleyton Roed scored at 9:04 to give Coachella Valley an initial lead, before Brandon Biro extended the advantage to 2-0 with a one-timer at 16:59.

Ontario turned the tide in the second when Samuel Fagemo converted on a breakaway opportunity at 6:09 and got the team’s Teddy Bear Toss started. Fagemo’s team-leading 15th goal of the year made it 2-1 and got the Reign back within a goal. A lone assist on the play was credited to Hudon, who sprung Fagemo free on the look into the CV end.

Jeff Malott tied the contest up at 2-2 with his fourth goal of 2024-25 on a scramble in front of the Firebirds’ net. The tally came at 12:26 of the middle frame and had assists by his linemates Hudon and Glenn Gawdin.

The Reign took the lead 1:08 later when Doty netted his third strike of the year off a shot that got through a screen and by goaltender Ales Stezka. Tyler Madden had the primary helper on the play, while Joe Hicketts picked up the second assist.

Shawn Element added insurance in the third, converting on a rebound in front of the Coachella Valley net for his seventh goal of the season to make it 4-2 at 11:36 of the final period.

Neither team was able to register a power play goal in the contest, with Ontario holding the Firebirds to an 0-for-5 mark while going 0-for-3 themselves. The Reign out-shot Coachella Valley 31-30 in the game despite a slow start in which they were out-shot 14-4 in the opening period.

Erik Portillo made the start in goal for Ontario and stopped 28 shots, while Stezka suffered the loss with 27 saves.

The win moved Ontario into a tie with Tucson for third place in the Pacific Division standings, each having secured 32 points.

Postgame reactions from Malott and defender Caleb Jones are below –

Jeff Malott

Caleb Jones

Ontario now enters the league’s holiday break and will resume its schedule on Friday in San Diego for a matchup with the Gulls at Pechanga Arena beginning at 7 p.m.