Reign Get Greasy Against Colorado

Kyle Kraemer, Matt White and Mario Lamoureux put a little bit of what coach Jason Christie calls “grease” into their game Saturday night.

The linemates used a strong forecheck and combined to provide three of Ontario’s four goals Saturday night, as the Reign beat the Colorado Eagles 4-3 in overtime.

Playing their second game in as many nights, the Reign came out firing, putting 10 shots on the Colorado net in the first period. But it was the Eagles who would strike first, as Ray Sawada snapped a shot over the shoulder of Ontario goaltender Michael Hutchinson in the second period.

The Eagle goal woke up the Reign, as the line of Kraemer, White and Lamoureux went to work. A strong forecheck led by Lamoureux produced a loose puck that Kraemer pounced on, swooped around the net and tucked it in before Marc Cheverie could get to his far post, and the game was tied.

Lamoureux’s strong work behind the net helped set up White 3:21 later. White hammered home a pass from the left side, and the Reign had its first lead.

But Colorado would score the next two, getting the equalizer with 25.5 left in the second, and then the go ahead goal 7:13 into the third period, as Jonathan Parker got behind the Reign defense and tucked the puck past Hutchinson for the 3-2 lead.

Ontario, however, made sure it didn’t last one. On the next shift, Danny Dries took the puck up the left wing and found Derek Couture streaking up the middle to tie the game.

In overtime, another strong forecheck by the foursome of Lamoureux, Jake Newton and Matt Register helped provide a loose puck that Kraemer shot through Cheverie for the game-winner.

The two teams play again Sunday, Dec. 1 at 3 p.m.