Ontario just shy of come-back

ONTARIO, Calif. – The Ontario Reign welcomed the Stockton Thunder in their final match-up this season.   The Thunder is finishing a three game road trip, after two losses to the Bakersfield Condors in as many nights.   The Reign just completed a three game series against the Idaho Steelheads, managing a single overtime win.   Last nights game resulted in a shootout loss.
 
The thunder arrived in Ontario in fourth place in the Western Conference, with 27-19-4-5 and 63 points.   The last place Reign is 20-31-2-4, with 46 points.
 
The game opened slowly, with minimal fanfare at the Citizens Bank Arena, before 5,797 fans.   Ontario leads the ECHL in fan attendance through 29 games, followed closely by the Thunder.   A few Thunder fans could be seen in attendance during this game.
 
Getting his first start with the Thunder is emergency back-up goaltender Dan Tormey, signed yesterday, while Bryan Pitton was called up to Oklahoma City AHL.
 
A boggled attempt to clear the puck by Ontario’s Mike Zacharias, led to Stockton’s first goal only 1:48 into the game.   Chris Lawrence happened to be in the right place at the right time with a wrist shot into an unmanned net for the goal.
 
Ontario knotted the game at 3:55, with a goal by Alex Bourret, assisted by Jordan Hill. But Stockton’s Jordan Fulton scored a goal, going top shelf to send the Thunder into the break leading 2-1.   There were a few scruffs in the later half of the first period, requiring Stockton to kill a three-on-five penalty.
 
In the second period, a short-handed goal by Jordan Foreman, assisted by Pierre-Andre Bureau extended the Thunder gap.   But less than a minute later, Ontario’s Kyle Kraemer found an opening just under Tormey’s extended leg near the post, to put the Reign within one on a power play.
 
The third period opened with Lawrence’s second goal of the night, on a power play just 39 seconds in, only to be answered by a power play goal by Jordan Hill.   But it wouldn’t be enough to give the Reign the edge they needed. The final at the bell was 4-3 in favor of the Thunder.
 
Stockton was one-for-seven on their powerplay opportunity, while Ontario was two-for-nine.   Tormey had 18 saves, while Zacharias had 20.
 
Stockton returns home to face the Alaska Aces on Friday, March 4 at the Stockton Arena. The Aces are second in the league, with 33-19-2-1 and 69 points, only a single point out of first place, held by the Wranglers.
 
The Reign will get a short break and hit the road to face the Utah Grizzlies in a two-game series starting Friday, March 4.   Ontario is only nine points out of the top seven, which is the placement necessary to see post-season action.   The Western Division has eight teams, and the top six teams are within nine points of one another, so the opportunities are still open.
 
Contact the writer at Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at Jack.Lima@prohockeynews.com