Matt Berry scored the tie-breaking goal with four minutes, 18 seconds to play as the San Diego Gulls defeated the Ontario Reign, 4-2, Saturday night at Valley View Casino Center.
Berry took a pass from Zac Larraza and put a wrist shot past Peter Budaj for his third goal in his 12 games with the Gulls and second in three games. .
Gulls center Joseph Cramarossa put in a rebound of a shot by Shea Theodore 2:02 into the third period to tie the score, 22 seconds after the Reign had taken a 2-1 lead on defenseman Nick Ebert’s first goal in his 27 games with the team.
Mike Sgarbossa scored an empty-net goal with 39 seconds left for the Gulls (25-20-1-1) before a crowd announced at 10,897.
Following a scoreless first period, Gulls rookie defenseman Chris Montour opened the scoring 15:37 into the second period with his ninth goal of the season. Sgarbossa and Ondrej Kase was credited with assists.
The Pacific Division-leading Reign (30-14-3-1) tied the score 17 seconds later on defenseman Kevin Raine’s first goal in his 41 games with the Los Angeles Kings American Hockey League affiliate.
Goaltender Anton Khudobin made 32 saves for the Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks’ AHL affiliate. Budaj made 26 saves as his record against the Gulls dropped to 3-4-1.
The 33-year-old Budaj played in the AHL All-Star Classic Feb. 1, was recalled by the Los Angeles Kings Feb. 11, made 24 saves in a 5-4 overtime victory over the New York Rangers Feb. 12 and re-assigned to the Reign Wednesday.
Both teams were scoreless in four power-play opportunities.
The Gulls are 19-0-0-1 when scoring first.
The Gulls will next play Wednesday at Stockton. Their next game at Valley View Casino Center will be Friday against the San Antonio Rampage, the Colorado Avalanche’s AHL affiliate.
