Reign 4, Phoenix 2.

Slowly but surely, Bud Holloway seems to be punching his ticket back to the American Hockey League.

On Thursday, he recorded his first ECHL hat trick in the Reign’s 4-2 victory over the host Phoenix Roadrunners. In five games since being reassigned from the Kings’ AHL affiliate in Manchester, N.H., Holloway has five goals and two assists. Jon Rheault contributed three assists, and Denny Johnston had two in his first game back from injured reserve.

The Reign never trailed in a close game, and Holloway’s third goal into an empty net with 11 seconds left provided the final score.

Andrew Martens scored the game’s first goal, his ninth of the season for the Reign. Jeff Zatkoff got the win, stopping 27 of 29 shots. The Reign come back home tomorrow night to play the ‘Runners for Part II of a stretch of three games in three nights.

The official scoresheet is here.

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About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.