San Francisco Bulls Falls To Ontario Reign 4-3
By Ryan Bayer
San Francisco Bulls goaltender #29 Thomas Heemsherk denies Ontario Reign’s forward #10 C.J. Stretch on a scoring attempt during the February 8, 2013 game at the Citizens Business Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: San Francisco Bulls media department.
Last night the San Francisco Bulls took on their rivals from south in game that did see much scoring action until the third period came around. San Francisco found themselves in 3-0 hole midway in the games final period. The good news for Bulls was that Dean Ouellet, Jordan Morrison, and Cody Carlson answered the call and erased that 3 goal deficit to take the contest into extra time.
At just 38 seconds in the games opening period, Bulls forward Marek Viedensky got the first penalty of the game when he was caught with a boarding minor. On the man advantage, the Ontario Reign managed to just put two shots on net and Bulls goaltender Taylor Nelson stopped both of them to keep the contest locked at 0-0. In addition, San Francisco killed the first minor of the game.
Minutes later, Bulls were called with another penalty as Alex Tuckerman was called for holding with 12:27 left in the first period. Thus giving the Reign another opportunity to try and break the 0-0 deadlock. In addition, Scott Langdon and Derek Couture drop the gloves behind the Bulls net. Bulls toughguy Scott Langdon would eventually get the decision of the bout. As a reward for their efforts, the fighters each got five for fighting.
While the Bulls were shorthand for the second time of the game they once again successfully killed off penalty to remain perfect on special teams.
Later in the period, the Bulls were awarded their first power play with 4:54 remaining in the first period. The penalty was charged to Ontario’s Brodie Sheahan who received a tripping minor. However, not much was done of the man advantage for the Bulls and in result of failing to convert on the power play, it remained a scoreless contest.
At the end of 20 minutes, the Bulls trailed the Ontario Reign on the shot clock 11-7.
It took 6:08 of the second period for the games first tally when Ontario Reign’s Kyle Kraemer managed to slide the puck past Nelson to put his team up 1-0. His goal was his 17th of the season with assist from both C.J. Stretch and Couture.
At 12:39 of the middle frame, a penalty shot was awarded for the Reign. Their shooter Brady Calla was denied by Bulls net minder Taylor Nelson and the score remained 1-0 Reign lead.
With 40 minutes of play completed the Bulls continued to trail the Ontario Reign on the shot clock 17-13
4:22 into the final period Ontario’s Brock Sheehan put the Bulls on the power play for third time of the contest. Unfortunately, San Francisco came up short and did not convert of the man advantage thus keeping the score at 1-0 Ontario.
Over four minutes later, the Reign made it 2-0 score when Kevin Estrada cashed in a rebound that was caused on a 2 on 0 and put the rubber past Nelson at 8:59 of the third. Estrada’s goal was his 1st of the season with the lone assist to Lamoureux
Just halfway into the final period both teams skated four aside thanks to matching minors to Ontario’s Cameron Burt and the Bulls Jonathan Lessard who went after each other and were awarded with roughing minors.
A mistake by the San Francisco Bulls caused another breakaway for the Reign as Kyle Kraemer scored his second goal of the night at 10:53 thus giving the Reign a three goal lead. Kreamer’s maker was unassisted.
Dean Ouellet cut the lead down to 3-1 with 8:36 left in the third period. Dean’s goal was his 23rd tally of the season with the assist to the other Ouellet, Christian.
With 3:57 remaining in the third period the Bulls once again cut into the Reign’s lead as Jordan Morrison pumped it home to make a 3-2 Ontario lead. Morrison’s strike was his 12th of the year and the lone assist went Alex Tuckerman.
In the games dying seconds, defenseman Cody Carlson got the much needed equalizer for the Bulls to tie the game up at 3-3. His game tying marker was his fifth of the season with the only assist to Christian Ouellet.
With all the goals the Bulls scored they forced overtime hockey. At the conclusion of regulation matching minors were handed out when Bulls Kris Belan and Reign’s Couture went after one another. Both were awarded roughing penalties for their efforts.
The teams went into the overtime period with three skaters aside. Something you rarely see in hockey. The contest was not decided in the overtime frame and the game went to the shootout competition. It took seven rounds to decide the winner between these two California teams. Ultimately, the Bulls were on the wrong end on this one as Ontario Reign’s Brady Calla cashed in the game deciding goal and they came away with this one 4-3.
3 Stars of The Game:
1. ONT – 15 Brady Calla
2. ONT – 16 Kyle Kraemer
3. SF – 44 Cody Carlson
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