The Ontario Reign erased a one-goal deficit with two third-period scores to defeat the Coachella Valley Firebirds 2-1 on Tuesday night. The win gives Ontario a 2-1 lead in their Pacific Division semifinal series. Aatu Jämsen and Logan Brown scored 80 seconds apart to turn the game around.
Aatu Jämsen and Logan Brown delivered the decisive goals early in the third period. Jani Nyman had given Coachella Valley a 1-0 lead late in the first period with a snap shot past Erik Portillo. Ontario responded when Nikita Novikov kept the puck in at the blue line, leading to Jämsen’s rebound goal with 14:04 remaining in regulation. Brown then scored the winner with 12:44 to play after beating the defense to a loose puck off the end boards.
