Chromiak scores twice in the third period as Wranglers fall 3-2 to Reign

ONTARIO, Calif. — The Calgary Wranglers carried a 2-1 lead into the third period on Tuesday night, but Martin Chromiak scored twice in the final period, including the winner with 2:50 remaining, and the Ontario Reign beat Calgary 3-2 at Toyota Arena.

The loss drops the Wranglers to 5-3, though they remain in first place in the Pacific Division with 10 points. Ontario improves to 4-2 and sits third in the Pacific with eight points.

After a scoreless first period, Tyson Gross (3) opened the scoring at 2:22 of the second period, assisted by William Strömgren (8) and Axel Hurtig (1).

Ontario tied it on the power play at 13:44. Cole Guttman got his third goal of the season, from Scott Perunovich (5) and Chromiak (1).

Captain Rory Kerins restored the lead with seven seconds left in the period, his fourth of the season, assisted by Dryden Hunt (6) and Abram Wiebe (4). Calgary led 2-1 after two.

Chromiak (3) pulled Ontario even 18 seconds into the third period, assisted by Guttman (2) and Lane Pederson (6). He added his fourth at 17:10, from Kirill Kirsanov (4), to give the Reign their first lead of the night, and it held.




Chromiak said the Reign remained confident despite trailing 2-1 entering the third period.

"We knew we were doing a good job," Chromiak said in a postgame interview published by the Ontario Reign. "Everyone was saying stick with it, and we're gonna get the job done."

Reign head coach Andrew Lord praised Chromiak's performance.

"When he plays with that intensity, with that consistency shift to shift, it's electric and it's a really exciting player," Lord said.

Carter George made 24 saves on 26 shots for Ontario. Kirill Zarubin stopped 13 of the 15 shots he faced. Calgary outshot Ontario 26-23. The Wranglers went 0-for-2 on the power play, the Reign 1-for-2.

Calgary's six-game road trip continues in Abbotsford on Saturday at 6 p.m. MT and Sunday at 4 p.m. MT. The Wranglers return home to Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday, Oct. 29, against the Laval Rocket.

This recap is brought to you in part by Animas Painting — interior and exterior painting in Calgary. Reach Rafael at 403-604-5529.