Logan Morrison’s shootout goal lifts Coachella Valley past Ontario
Logan Morrison, who scored in the third period to help the Coachella Valley Firebirds get to overtime, scored the only goal of the shootout Friday night to lift the Firebirds to a 4-3 road victory over the Ontario Reign.
Firebirds goalie Chris Driedger saved all three Ontario shots in the shootout as the Firebirds completed a rally that began with Morrison’s 15th goal of the year in the third period when the Reign held a 2-1 lead.
The win allowed the Firebirds to reach 80 points for the American Hockey League season and extend their lead over Tucson in the Pacific Division to nine points. The Firebirds have now scored at least one point in 10 consecutive games.
Marian Studenic had scored to give the Firebirds a 3-2 lead late, but Ontario scored a tying goal with just 1:13 left in regulation by T.J. Tynan with the goalie pulled to force the overtime. Both teams had scoring chances in the five-minute overtime, but the game went to the shootout.
The Firebirds began the scoring in the first period when Kole Lind scored at the 4:32 mark of the period on assists from Cale Fleury and Andrew Poturalski. Lind raced into the Reign’s zone and shot from the top of the right circle to beat Aaron Dell.
That lead lasted until just 17 seconds into the second period, when Samuel Fagemo scored his 36th goal of the season for Ontario and a 1-1 tie. Just over six minutes later Martin Chromiak scored his 13th goal of the year to give Ontario a 2-1 lead.
Driedger ended the night with 22 saves, while Dell had 25 saves for Ontario.
The Firebirds’ next game will be at home Wednesday against Texas.