The Ontario Reign defeated the Coachella Valley Firebirds in a shootout Sunday night by a final score of 2-1 in front of 6,480 fans at Acrisure Arena. The Reign will open the regular season Friday, Oct. 2 at Acrisure Arena taking on the Firebirds at 7 p.m. PST.
Kenny Connors tied the game with 1.3 seconds to play in regulation with an extra attacker on the ice and then Taylor Ward was the lone skater to score in the shootout. Erik Portillo made 18 saves in regulation/overtime while stopping all three shooters in the shootout session.
After a scoreless first period where the Reign outshot the Firebirds 15-7, Tyson Jugnauth got on the board at 9:36 of the second period from Lleyton Roed and Eduard Sale giving Coachella Valley a 1-0 lead. From the right corner Roed found Jugnauth racing in from the blueline where he received a pass at the far side of the crease to direct the puck home. The Reign failed to convert on three power-play opportunities as they outshot the Firebirds 9-5 in the second period.
The Reign pulled goaltender Erik Portillo with 90 seconds left in regulation for the extra attacker situation and it would be Kenny Connors tying the score at 1-1 with just 1.3 seconds left in regulation. From the left circle Joe Hicketts sent a slapshot off the backwall and at the right post Connors found the rebound and banged it home. Ontario outshot Coachella Valley 10-5 in the final 20 minutes of play.
After a scoreless overtime frame where the Reign killed off a penalty for the remaining 83 seconds, Taylor Ward shot first in the shootout and was the lone skater to score as Erik Portillo denied all three Firebirds attempts.
Erik Portillo earned the win making 18 saves on 19 shots while Victor Ostman suffered the loss making 35 saves on 36 shots. Ontario went 0-for-4 on the power-play while Coachella Valley was 0-for-1.