LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Ontario Reign, proud affiliate of the NHL Los Angeles Kings, defeated the Las Vegas Wranglers in overtime, 3-2, on Friday evening before a crowd of 4,982 fans at Orleans Arena. The win snapped the Reign’s seven-game winless streak.

Ontario was first out of the gate in the opening match of a back-to-back road series between the clubs. While out on an odd-man rush with defenseman Michael Egener, center Tim Kraus fired off a wrist shot that sailed over the blocker of Las Vegas netminder Michael Ouzas.

Left wing Ned Lukaceivc scored the equalizer for Las Vegas at 17:24. Just as the Wranglers’ power play expired, center Joshua Prudden snapped a pass to Lukacevic who was waiting on top of the crease to punch a shot past Reign goaltender Curtis Darling. Left wing Shay Stephenson also claimed an assist on the game-tying goal.

The Wranglers took a 2-1 lead over the Reign when the line of Ned Lukacevic, Joshua Prudden, and Shay Stephenson claimed their second points of the game during a power play at 3:49 in the second period. Lukacevic registered his second goal of the game when his shot went over Curtis Darling’s stick. Prudden and Stephenson notched their second assists of the night on the play.

The Wranglers managed to hold on to their lead until only 1:08 remained in regulation and Ontario scored a goal that would force an overtime session to determine the game winner. Defenseman Shawn Germain snapped a pass across the neutral zone to fellow blue-liner David Walker, who launched off a wrist shot that went top-shelf and tied up the game at two goals.

With only 35 seconds left in the overtime session, Andrew Martens fired off a one-timer that was deflected over the goal line by center Jon Francisco. Center Robert Pearce also picked up an assist on the game winner, and Ontario took the win with a final score of Reign 3, Wranglers 2 (OT).

Three stars:
1. LV – Ned Lukacevic
2. ONT – Jon Francisco
3. LV – Joshua Prudden