Aces comeback to beat Reign

ONTARIO, Calif. – Kane Lafranchise scored his second overtime, game winning goal of the season 1:02 into overtime on Saturday night to cap off an Alaska Aces 4-3 comeback win over the Ontario Reign from Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California. The Aces won for the eleventh time in their last twelve games, and finished their six-game road trip with a 5-1 record. Alaska improved their overall record to a league-best 16-5 on the season.
 
The teams played a fast-paced, but scoreless opening period. Alaska outshot Ontario 7-5 in the frame. Ontario had a goal waived off at 12:30 when the whistle blew before the Reign poked a rebound into the net on a goalmouth scramble.
 
The teams found the offense in the second period, combining for five goals. Ontario jumped on the board early with a pair of goals in the opening 61 seconds. Derek Couture scored on a rebound 24 seconds into the period to make it 1-0 Ontario. Kyle Clifford then scored a highlight-reel goal 37 seconds later to make it 2-0. Alaska fought back to even the score with a pair of goals midway through the period. Nate Thompson converted his own rebound at 10:23 to get the Aces within one. Zach Harrison then stripped Ontario goaltender JF Berube and wrapped the puck around and into the empty net, to tie the score at 13:34. Kyle Kraemer scored late in the second period to give the Reign a 3-2 lead entering the third.
 
In the third period, the Aces tied the game when Tommy Mele scored on a rebound at 11:12 following a sharp-angle Jarred Smith shot. The Reign outshot the Aces 10-9 in the period and the game went to overtime. In the extra session, Lafranchise scored at 1:02 on the first shot of overtime to give the Aces the 4-3 comeback win.
 
Gerald Coleman (4-0) earned the win making 22 saves on 25 shots. JF Berube (6-2-1) made 20 saves on 24 shots, suffering the loss. The Aces went 0-3 on the power play and the Reign were 0-3. Alaska was outshot by Ontario 25-24 in the game.
The Aces now return home on Wednesday night to host the Utah Grizzlies.
 
Contact the photographer at Jack.Lima@prohockeynews.com Follow us on Twitter @prohockeynews