November 5: Bus Texts with Stothers

Here’s tonight’s Bus Texts with Stothers with a recap of the action as the Reign lost again in the back-to-back.

Tucson 5, Reign 4 (OT)
Anthony DeAngelo converted on a 2-on-1 in overtime and the Reign were swept in Tucson in a 5-4 defeat. The way things started the game was sure to go Ontario’s way. Goals just 16 seconds apart in the first three minutes by Andrew Crescenzi and T.J. Hensick had the Reign rolling. Tucson brought the game to a 2-2 tie by the end of the first as Brendan Perlini converted on his team’s two power play opportunities. After surrendering their early lead, the Reign then allowed a shorthanded goal just 1:41 into the second by Tyler Gaudet who shot off a 2-on-1 to beat Anders Lindback, who was playing in his second straight game. The Reign’s Paul LaDue would score his first AHL goal on a long shot from the right point (which looked like it was deflected on a high tip by Jonny Brodzinski) to bring things even at 3 but Tucson’s Michael Bunting scored from the right circle in the last 1:27 of the period. In their second of 12 meetings this season the early stages of a rivalry were starting to form and reached a high point early in the third period when Tucson goalie Adin Hill went after Paul Bissonnette. As play somewhat settled down it was Adrian Kempe who scored his second of the season as a Brett Sutter shot bounced off the Swede planted in front of Hill to tie the game yet again and eventually force overtime. In the 3-on-3, Lindback was the early star and made two point-blank saves but couldn’t come up with another stop on the 2-on-1. Kurtis MacDermid had a chance of his own on Hill but as he turned to get back on defense he collided with a Tucson player, leaving Kempe to defend the odd-man rush with Craig Cunningham and DeAngelo. Kempe laid out in an attempt to prevent the cross-ice pass but it got through to DeAngelo who ended it.

BUS TEXTS WITH STOTHERS
ORI: Do you feel like 1 point out of available 4 doesn’t reflect the effort on the weekend? Two very close games.
Stothers: The effort, and the work ethic never wavered. There is tremendous character on this hockey club and we deserved more than a single point. Sometimes that is the way it goes. It’s a tough league, and it is very hard to win. That being said, if we put forth that type of effort, game in, and game out, we will win our fair share of games.
ORI: What did you see from Lindback in his second game? Some great stops in OT but overall five allowed on 28 shots.
Stothers: It is a very difficult situation for him to be in. He is trying to fast track his game to a level that is beyond what he has been doing as of late. Since he attended training camp all he has been able to do is take shots in a structured setting in practice. That is nothing like the reality of game conditions and the pressure to win. He showed tonight that he was willing to battle thru some early struggles. He is a pro.
ORI: Happy to see LaDue get his first one, although it looked like Brodzinski maybe had a tip?
Stothers: Sure looked like Brods got a piece of it on its way to the net? Never matters to me who scores them, or how we get them. I just want the twine to bulge, and make sure the refs are taking the puck to center for the faceoff indicating a good goal.
ORI: You mentioned that this could turn into another rivalry like a San Diego. Did it seem that way tonight?
Stothers: There were a lot of scrums and pushing and shoving after every whistle. A lot of hockey banter between the benches. There does seem to be an early season disdain for each other, but that’s healthy!! It’s a contact sport!! You try to knock your opponent down, and when he gets up, you knock him down again. It has a playoff intensity to it already.