Defenseman Jacob Larsson scored one minute, 20 seconds into overtime to give the San Diego Gulls a 5-4 victory over the Ontario Reign Friday evening at a sold-out Valley View Casino Center.
Sam Carrick sent a pass to Larsson who put a low shot past Scott Wedgewood for his second goal in 35 games with the Gulls this season. The other came on Oct. 21.
The goal came on the only shot of overtime, which in the American Hockey League is played with three skaters per team, two less than usual.
The Gulls (30-19-1-0) tied the score with 3:59 left on defenseman Andy Welinski’s second goal of the game before a crowd announced at 12,920.
Ontario (27-19-4-1) took the lead with 6:21 to play on Justin Auger’s goal. Auger had tied the score 1:42 earlier.
The Gulls took a 3-2 lead when Welinski scored 10:12 into the second period when the Gulls had a two-man advantage.
The first period ended in a 2-2 tie, with Carrick and Mike Liambas scoring for the Gulls and Philippe Maillet and Michael Mersch for the Reign, the Los Angeles Kings AHL affiliate.
The Gulls were outshot, 45-24, including a 17-6 disadvantage in the first period and 18-9 in the third.
Goaltender Reto Berra made 41 saves, including stopping a penalty shot by Scott Herr in the second period. Wedgewood made 19 saves.
The Gulls league-leading power play scored on one of four opportunities. The Gulls killed all four of the Reign’s power-play opportunities.
The Gulls will next play Sunday at Stockton.
— City News Service
