Ontario Reign Fall to Grizzlies

(photo credit: Josie Vimahi)

Even royals cannot hold their reign down every time. The Ontario Reign, Four-time Pacific Division Champions and affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets,  lost in a shutout score of 1-0 to the Utah Grizzlies.

The second that  first period started, it set a tough tone for the night. At just 43 seconds in, Reign defenseman Zach Bell went up and fought against the Grizzlies’ Alex Gallant. With that firing up both teams and having them ready to charge, the mood quickly changed into giving it all or nothing that game. The Reign had a few more chances to shoot during the first with 7 shots on goal but failed to take advantage of it. The perfect chance they had for a goal was with Geoff Walker and Maxim Kitsyn during a two-on-one deal. The pair tried their best to get it through the Grizzlies zone but goalie Ryan Faragher did not allow it to pass with a great save.

With an exciting first period, everyone expected the second to be just the same, just with a few goals this time around. The Grizzlies’ Myles Harvey set the puck up for Michael Colavecchia, who then passed it to T.J. Syner for a great fire shot past Reign’s Joe Cannata at 15:49. Once again the Reign had many opportunities to get some pucks in and tie the game before the third came around with 10 shots on goal but Faragher managed to not let any of them through. The Grizzlies finally started leading the Reign along with an ending second period score of 1-0.

The third period proved to be a slow one for both teams. Even the Reign’s power play after a tripping call against Colavecchia was not enough to get them through the rest of the night against Faragher. Both teams ended the third with only six shots on goals each that came out to a total of 23-18. The Grizzlies held on to the end and Faragher saved 23 goals  to achieve his first professional shutout.

The Reign is hoping to bounce back on Wednesday night against the Idaho Steelheads for the first of three games against them.