Well, it was bound to happen eventually… and it did on Friday night in Tucson.
The Reign finally dropped a game in regulation… and it wasn’t pretty.
After giving up a goal to the Roadrunners near the midpoint of the first period, captain Brett Sutter responded with a goal of his own to tie things up. Minutes later, defenseman Jacob Moverare potted his second of the season to give Ontario what would be their first lead of the night.
Moverare makes it 2-1 #Reign with his second goal of the season!
Assisted by: Turcotte(5), Spence(5) pic.twitter.com/wjEDL9aHoU
— Eric (@kingsgifs2) November 13, 2021
Tied 2-2 entering the second period, Aidan Dudas scored for the third straight game and after that it was all Roadrunners.
Dudas(5) makes it 3-2! #Reign
Assisted by Spence (6) pic.twitter.com/0RlwLyBRgQ
— Eric (@kingsgifs2) November 13, 2021
Dudas was injured after a hit by Elynuik. Doty then drops the gloves with Empey#Reign pic.twitter.com/ppXnBQp13B
— Eric (@kingsgifs2) November 13, 2021
UPDATE
Dudas lined up to go back on ice for 3rd
— The Mayor (@mayorNHL) November 13, 2021
Former Reign forward Boko Imama put Tucson up 5-3 midway through the second, yet when Martin Frk scored just before second intermission, there was a brief period of hope for the road team.
Frk scores his 9th goal of the season! #Reign
Assisted by Turcotte (6) pic.twitter.com/xnERH4G4m9
— Eric (@kingsgifs2) November 13, 2021
Three Roadrunners goals in the final frame of regulation ended any thoughts of a comeback, with Ontario falling 8-4 to give them a 9-1-1 record on the season (technically, it’s 9-1-0-1, but just stop it already).
Rubbing salt in the wound, Stockton won their ninth straight game last night and took over first place in the AHL’s Pacific Division.
With limited options available among his ‘extra’ players, it will be interesting to see how Reign coach John Wroblewski adjusts his lineup for Game 2 in the desert — if at all. From early indications, he’ll be using the following for tonight’s rematch:
ONTARIO REIGN PROJECTED LINEUP vs. TUCSON on 11/13
Johnson – Turcotte – Frk
Tkachev – JAD – Fagemo
Wagner – Dudas – Madden
Burke – Sutter – Doty
Other options include: Pavlychev and Sodergran
Gaunce – Grans
Moverare – Spence
Phillips – Durzi
Other options include: Kasastul
Sparks (starter)
Villalta
Puck drop is scheduled for 6pm tonight in Tucson and can be viewed via AHL TV.
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