Connors, Copley lift Reign to overtime win
Kenny Connors' overtime goal and Pheonix Copley's 26 saves brought the Ontario Reign a 2-1 win over the Colorado Eagles. The Reign remain in first place in the AHL Pacific Division at 44-19-3-2 and 93 points.
ONTARIO, CA. -- Only 17 seconds into overtime, Kenny Connors found the back of the net for the game-winning goal in the Ontario Reign’s 2-1 win over the Colorado Eagles Tuesday night in Ontario. For the eighth and final time this regular season, the Reign matched up against one of the best teams in the AHL Pacific Division, the Colorado Eagles.
Ontario and Colorado (40-17-6-5; 91 points) have alternated between first and second place in the Pacific Division numerous times this year. And even now, they only stand two points away from one another - both having clinched a playoff berth. “They’re a really good transition team,” Connors said in postgame interviews.
“I thought we did a pretty good job for most of the game, kind of taking that transition away. (Pheonix) Copley played unbelievable. (This game) definitely had a playoff feel, both teams really wanted this game for the standings and just going forward for the rest of the year and playoffs, so it was a big game.
” The Reign now hold a 6-1-0-1 record against the Eagles this season and Copley - who finished with 26 saves tonight - improves to a 4-0 record against Colorado this season. Tonight’s game was a defensive battle as Colorado’s goalie, Trent Miner also had 26 saves. Neither team scored for the first 36 minutes of the game, until Jack Ahcan scored a power-play goal for Colorado.