Justin Auger scored 11:55 into overtime to give the visiting Ontario Reign a 2-1 win over the San Diego Gulls in Game 2 of the Pacific Division Finals on Saturday night.
With a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, the Reign will host Game 3 on Sunday night back in Ontario (10 p.m. ET, AHL Live).
Auger knocked in a rebound of Kevin Gravel’s shot after Adrian Kempe won an offensive-zone draw. It was the second goal of the postseason for Auger.
Matt Hackett was brilliant all night in net for San Diego, keeping his team in the game while the Gulls’ offense failed to score for more than 68 minutes after grabbing an early lead.
Nick Ritchie scored for San Diego 3:22 into the game, his fourth goal of the postseason, to give the Gulls their first lead of the series.
The 1-0 advantage held up until the early stages of the third, when Kris Newbury deflected a shot past Hackett for a power-play goal to draw the Reign even. It was Newbury’s first postseason goal since 2012.
Hackett (1-2) finished the night with 42 saves. Peter Budaj (5-1) stopped 26 of 27 shots in net for Ontario.
Pacific Division Finals – Series “L” (best-of-7)
P1-Ontario Reign vs. P2-San Diego Gulls
Game 1 – Thu., May 5 – ONTARIO 5, San Diego 3
Game 2 – Sat., May 7 – Ontario 2, SAN DIEGO 1 (OT)
Game 3 – Sun., May 8 – San Diego at Ontario, 10:00
Game 4 – Fri., May 13 – Ontario at San Diego, 10:05
*Game 5 – Sat., May 14 – San Diego at Ontario, 10:00
*Game 6 – Mon., May 16 – Ontario at San Diego, 10:05
*Game 7 – Wed., May 18 – San Diego at Ontario, 10:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
.@justinauger20 is the #AHLOT hero as Game 2 goes to the @ontarioreign #ONTvsSD pic.twitter.com/NpebQJDMcN
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 8, 2016
