Eric Fehr scored in overtime to give the San Diego Gulls a 4-3 victory over the Ontario Reign Friday evening, completing a comeback from a two-goal third-period deficit.
Fehr took a pass from Kalle Kossila and put a shot from the left faceoff circle past Jack Campbell with one minute, 37 seconds left in the five- minute overtime for his seventh goal of the season.
The goal came four seconds after an interference penalty against Ontario defenseman Paul LaDue expired.
The victory extended the Gulls season-long winning streak to four games.
This the second consecutive game Fehr has scored the game-winning goal. Fehr broke a tie with a power-play goal early in the third period in Saturday’s 4-1 victory over the Stockton Heat.
The Gulls were forced to kill a penalty early in the overtime when Corey Tropp was called for interference 12 seconds into overtime. Tropp also received a 10-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, sidelining him for the rest of the overtime.
Overtime in the American Hockey League is usually played with three skaters per team, two fewer than usual. However, on a power play, the team that was not penalized gets an additional skater.
The power-play ended after 1:17 when LaDue was called for interference.
The comeback began with defenseman Steve Oleksy’s goal 4:14 into the third period. The Gulls tied the score with 13:25 left in regulation on Deven Sideroff’s goal.
The Reign increased their lead to 3-1 14 seconds into the third period on a goal by Brett Sutter, a son of former Los Angeles Kings coach Darryl Sutter.
The Gulls (13-11-1-0) opened the scoring 9:44 into the first period on Nic Kerdiles’ second goal in his seven games with the team this season.
Ontario, the Kings AHL affiliate, tied the score on Michael Mersch’s power-play goal at 10:46 of the first period. The Reign took the lead on LaDue’s goal 1:58 later before a crowd at the Valley View Casino Center announced at 9,274.
The Gulls led in shots, 35-33, including a 6-0 advantage in overtime and a 10-5 lead in the third period.
Goaltender Kevin Boyle (8-6-1-0) made 30 saves for the Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks AHL affiliate. Campbell made 31 saves.
The Gulls, who lead the 30-team AHL by scoring on 25.6 percent of their power plays, were scoreless in six power-play opportunities. The Gulls, who are last in penalty killing at 75.2 percent, killed six of seven penalties.
The Gulls and Ontario will meet again Saturday afternoon at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario.
A new LED sports lighting system and audio system upgrade at Valley View Casino Center debuted Friday.
The 400-watt LED lights will improve visibility, and deliver more light onto the playing surface, instantly and efficiently control dimming and theatrical control of the lights, provide special effects and LED color- changing fixtures, and enhance broadcasts with superior light quality during Gulls telecasts on FOX 5 San Diego, according to Matt Savant, the Gulls president of business operations.
The system installed by Musco Lighting will result in a significant savings in energy consumption for the arena, Savant said.
Also debuting was a high-definition JBL audio system that includes 50 1,750-watt speakers and eight 1,500-watt subwoofers, Savant said.
