ONTARIO, Calif., -- Samuel Fagemo scored back-to-back goals to lead the Ontario Reign to a 4-2 victory over the first place Colorado Eagles Wednesday night in Ontario.
Goalie Pheonix Copley saved 24 of 26 shots, stretching out his body to block the forceful sticks and pucks that came his way.
Tonight was the first April home game for the Reign and the intensity they played with showed just how great it was to be on home ice.
“I think when we stick with our game, we play the structure game,” Martin Chromiak said in postgame interviews. “And a good neutral zone and stick to the details, I think we can beat anyone, even the top team three times in a row. So I think that gives us a good confidence towards the playoffs.”
Five minutes into the opening period, Chromiak scored his 18th goal of the season with assists from Glenn Gawdin and Charles Hudon.
“He (Marco Sturm) trusts me more,” Chromiak said. “And I really appreciate it when he puts me on the ice when we are winning or when we’re losing. When we score the last goal or we have to control the lead. I think that also gives me a lot of confidence that I see that coaches trust me.”
Less than two minutes later, Fagemo found the back of the net for the first time that period.
But of course there would be more to come from the Reign’s leading scorer.
Fagemo later netted his 29th goal of the season, finishing the period off with a 3-0 lead.
In the second period, Kaleb Lawrence added on with his fourth goal of the season as Jared Wright and Otto Salin were credited with assists.
Colorado was scoreless until 8:09 into the final period when Jacob MacDonald scored back-to-back goals himself, avoiding a shutout for his team.
But MacDonald’s late goals weren’t enough as Ontario’s dominance on both sides of the ice landed them with a 4-2 win.
Ontario clinched a playoff spot two weeks ago and currently stand in third place in the AHL Pacific Division with a 42-24-3-1 record and 88 points.
Coach Sturm said it’s very important to get these wins against top teams during the end of the season.
“You want to go into the playoffs with the right mind,” coach Sturm said. “And with the right flow, the way we want to play. It’s been pretty solid, there were some small, little hiccups down the stretch but overall I can’t complain…(I) give my guys a lot of credit.”
The Reign will have a day off before hosting the San Diego Gulls in Ontario on Friday at 7 p.m.