November 4: Bus Texts with Stothers

Today’s Bus Texts with Stothers is brought to you by the letter F … as in firsts.

Tucson 3, Reign 2
In their first meeting against the Tucson Roadrunners and their first of 12 this season, the Reign never led and in the end fell 3-2. It was a night of firsts, really, as it was goalie Anders Lindback’s debut after being added on via PTO last week. A familiar face in Jamie McBain, a former defenseman in the Kings organization, scored the first goal by burying a rebound on the power play at 13:01 of the first period. As would become a trend, the Reign’s Vincent LoVerde scored just 1:17 after, an impressive pull drag move that froze McBain and allowed the captain some free ice to beat Tucson’s Adin Hill from the slot. Late in the first, Paul Bissonnette and Stefan Fournier squared off immediately after a faceoff and both were handed fighting majors and game misconducts for “Fighting at Puck Drop” a new rule in the AHL this season in an attempt to reduce what can be perceived as staged fighting. In the second period Tuscon took its second lead as Michael Bunting fired a shot by Lindback from the right circle at 17:03. Again it was LoVerde with the equalizer, this time 1:50 later, finishing off a cross-ice feed from Adrian Kempe on a 2-on-1 to beat Hill from the right side. Presented with their third and final power play of the game the Roadrunners converted at 12:27 of the third period. Michael Bunting danced around Reign defenseman Zach Trotman inside the blue line and found a crashing Christian Fischer for a redirect. In the waning moments of the third the Reign pulled Lindback and T.J. Hensick was denied twice at the goal mouth desperately trying to finish a juicy rebound left from a Jonny Brodzinski shot. Lindback finished with 18 saves on 20 shots. The Reign’s AHL-leading power play failed to convert on its one try and failed to score for the first time in a game this season.

BUS TEXTS WITH STOTHERS
ORI: I know it’s just on game but any overall impressions of Lindback tonight and of facing the Roadrunners for the first time?
Stothers: Good to finally get Lindback some game action that’s the only way to see what you have. It’s been a long time coming and I thought he did well. I thought the team played well and deserved a better fate but that’s just how it goes some nights. Tucson is a good team. It will be good hockey each and every meeting.
ORI: Obviously a great game for Vinny on the offensive end but are you looking for more from the forwards? 41 shots is very high, but did you feel like you got enough quality chances as well?
Stothers: We had some good chances and also tried to get far too fancy at other times that took us out of scoring chances. They had 20 shots, and their chances came on the PP of which we had a grand total of one opportunity. Vinn has been great and scored two beauties for us tonight.
ORI: Was Bissonnette surprised by the game misconduct? Were you? I know it’s a new rule that we haven’t seen just yet, at least for the Reign, this season.
Stothers: It’s early in the season and sometimes it takes awhile for these new rules to sink in. You are in the heat of the battle and two guys want to settle some issues. Live and learn. I respect what Biss brings to the team, and what he does for his teammates. Does it tarnish the game? Don’t ask me, ask the 2879 people who paid to get in, and then stood and cheered before, during, and after it. I sure didn’t see anyone running for the exits.