Ontario back on top

STOCKTON, Ca – The Ontario Reign regained a 2-1 series advantage over the Stockton Thunder in game three of the Western Division quarterfinals. Before 4,047 at the Stockton Arena In a very methodical and uneventful game Ontario got the win with a score of 5-1 and remained undefeated at that locale.
 
“We’ve been fortunate to have a good record here. We know this is a good team,” said Ontario coach Karl Taylor. “We played smart and were patient and able to take advantage of the opportunities.”

The first period amounted to conservative play by both teams, which is out of the ordinary for the Thunder.  Ontario’s Dale Reinhardt scored with a wrist shot past Thunder goalie Bryan Pitton at 8:57 into the period, assisted by Jon Francisco and Jon Rheault. Ontario was not able to capitalize on two separate power plays, but managed to out shoot the Thunder 9-1 before the end of the period, one which ended with Ontario holding a 1-0 lead. In the second period, Ontario’s Bud Holloway put the puck past Pitton less than a minute into the period for his fourth goal of the series, assisted by Rheault, his second assist of the game. The Thunder’s Mark Adamek was able to sink a long shot past Jeff Zatkoff at 9:51 into the period for his first goal of the series, assisted by Judd Blackwater and Igor Gongalsky.  Pitton made a few difficult saves but the Thunder offense wasn’t able to come back. The period ended with a 2-1 score in favor of Ontario. The Thunder was able to outshoot the Reign this period by a 14-10 margin. At the 4:58 mark of the third period Geoff Walker scored a wrist shot, assisted by Holloway. The final two Ontario goals, both results of power plays, would ultimately put the game in the pocket for the Reign. Shawn Germain scored his third goal of the series, at 10:23, assisted by P.J. Atherton and Zatkoff and Walker scored his second of the game at 17:33, with an assist by Holloway (his second of the night). 
 
“This is a big win for us; to be able to come in and play in this rink and steal one from them,” said Holloway  “They did it to us too. It’s (the arena winning streak) in the back of our mind – we know we can play good here.  It’s about one game at a time, that’s how we got through tonight. We’re going to enjoy it tonight and wipe the slate clean and come back and start again.”
With less than a minute to play, a skirmish broke out between Stockton’s Garet Hunt and Ontario’s David Walker, and both players were assessed a fighting major penalty. “There’s a lot of fight in [the Thunder], and they were sending a message to let us know they will be here Friday” said Taylor. “Someone has to lose, this time it was us,” said Adamek. “It’s time for us to face reality, and come back with a chip on our shoulder.” Game four will be played Friday, April 17th at the Stockton Arena. Contact the writer at: shellie.lima@prohockeynews.com Contact the photographer at: jack.lima@prohockeynews.com
 
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