The Ontario Reign (11-6-1-0) defeated the Henderson Silver Knights (9-7-1-0) Friday night by a final score of 4-3 in front of 6,673 fans at Toyota Arena. The Reign will host the Texas Stars Sunday, Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. (PST).
Ontario took a 2-0 lead on power-play scores from Andre Lee and Taylor Ward. Henderson stormed back taking a 3-2 advantage with 5:51 left in regulation before Angus Booth tied the game with 2:55 to play and Cole Guttmann provided the game winner with 1:57 left in the contest. Pheonix Copley stood tall in the crease making 35 saves in the victory as the Reign were outshot 38-16.
Despite being outshot 14-3 in the opening 20 minutes of play the Reign led 1-0 after the first period on a power-play goal from Andre Lee (6th) at 5:23 from Cole Guttman and Samuel Bolduc. The score came just seven seconds into the man advantage when Kenny Connors won a face-off blocker side of Hart. From there Glenn Gawdin at the right wing fed Bolduc at the blue line. Bolduc slid the puck to the right circle where Guttman fed Lee at the top of the crease for a deflection past Hart as Lee got around the defender at the crease.
After 40 minutes of play the Reign and Silver Knights were even at 2-2. Ontario took a 2-0 lead when Taylor Ward (10th) scored for his third straight game at 4:58 on the power-play from Joe Hicketts and Martin Chromiak. From the blue line Hicketts sent a shot off the back glass where Ward picked up the rebound in the in the left circle and sent a backhand shot into the top right corner. Matyas Sapovaliv scored on the power-play for the Silver Knights at 8:29 on a rebound at the crease from Trevor Connelly and Kai Uchacz with a rebound. Tanner Laczynski tied the game at 2-2 just 3:58 later. From the left side of the goal line, he sent the puck off the paddle of Copley who made the save but Laczynski was able to bury his own rebound. Shots were 15-5 Henderson.
Tanner Laczynski put the Silver Knights out in front 3-2 with his second goal of the game coming with just 5:11 remaining in the contest. Angus Booth (1st) tied the score just 2:16 later with a slapshot from inside the blue line finding the top right corner with assists going to Kyle Burroughs and Chromiak. Then 58 seconds later Cole Guttman (4th) provided the eventual game winner making it 4-3 tipping a point shot home in the high slot from Burroughs after Glenn Gawdin won an offensive zone face-off in the right circle.
Pheonix Copley made 35 saves on 38 shots in the win while Carter Hart suffered the loss making 12 saves on 16 shots.
Postgame thoughts from Andrew Lord and Andre Lee.
Lord
On tonight’s win
Pretty ugly to be honest. Really liked the resiliency in the third when we went down, to find a way to tie it then ultimately win it without overtime. I thought our goaltender was unbelievable. Good two power play goals as well, which is really helpful. But other than that, it was definitely an off night.
On Pheonix Copley’s game
The first 10 minutes, we were under siege. We were slow to the gates and he was excellent. I’d have to look back, but most likely his best performance of the year. He was great.
On tonight’s power play
It was good, much needed, obviously, especially in a night where we weren’t at the races. Really nice power play face off there, drawn up by Schuler. And then Ward bangs on that back and he gets it up under the bar, which is really nice too.
Lee
On playing with Connors and Wright
It’s great. I mean, they’re two good guys. Wright is the fastest guy in the league, almost I don’t know. Kenny is a really smart player. So it’s great playing with them. They don’t play like rookies. They play like they played for a long time here. I’m just trying to do my best to help them as well.
On the team’s play tonight
The first and second there wasn’t our game at all. Talked going into the third, said we got to change something. And I think we came out really good in the third, even though they got the goal late there. We stuck together and we got two late. That just shows that we’re a good team.