Game 24: Reign 4, San Jose 3 (OT) + postgame notes/video

Ontario Reign 4, San Jose 3 (OT)
Final

Radio feed
Box score

SOG: ONT 33, SJ 43
PP: ONT 1/4, SJ 3/3

ONT starters: G Jack Campbell, D Paul LaDue, D Kurtis MacDermid, LW Brett Sutter, C Mike Amadio, RW Jonny Brodzinski
SJ starters: G Troy Grosenick, D Tim Heed, D Joakim Noah, LW John McCarthy, C Ryan Carpenter, RW Adam Helewka

FIRST PERIOD
1) ONT – Teddy Purcell (3) (Michael Mersch, T.J. Hensick), 6:32
2) SJ PPG – Joakim Ryan (3) (Tim Heed, Daniel O’Regan), 9:47
3) SJ PPG – Adam Helewka (5) (Tim Heed, Daniel O’Regan), 17:27

SECOND PERIOD
4) ONT – Adrian Kempe (5) (Justin Auger, Joel Lowry), 5:25
5) SJ PPG – Adam Helewka (6) (Marcus Sorensen, Tim Heed), 16:19

THIRD PERIOD
6) ONT – Brett Sutter (5) (T.J. Hensick, Teddy Purcell), 16:46

OVERTIME
7) ONT PPG – Michael Mersch (9) (Teddy Purcell, T.J. Hensick), 1:07

POSTGAME NOTES

–The Reign improved to 13-6-5-0 overall and 7-2-4-0 on the road as they defeated San Jose, which saw its three-game winning streak snapped and their record drop to 10-9-3-0. The Reign improved to 1-1-1-0 against San Jose this season.

–The Reign are now 7-1-1-0 in their last nine games, picking up points in all but one as they head into the holiday break. Their next game is Dec. 26 in Ontario against Bakersfield.

–Michael Mersch’s overtime-winner was his first game-winning goal of the season but also his ninth goal, which now is tops for the Reign. Mersch, who also added an assist, now has a goal in each of the last three games and is on a three-game point streak (3-1=4).

–Goalie Jack Campbell earned his 10th win of the season (record now 10-3-2) and registered a season-high 40 saves in his ninth straight game and fourth this week.

–Teddy Purcell continued his hot play since joining the team as he scored the opening goal and had two assists (including the primary on Mersch’s game-winner) and now has nine points (3-6=9) in seven appearances with the Reign. He’s also on a three-game point streak.

–T.J. Hensick had three assists and jumped into the team scoring lead over Jonny Brodzinski with 21 points (8-13=21).

–The Reign were outshot 43-33. Purcell had a game-high seven shots on goal.

–The Reign have scored three or more goals in each of their last 10 games.

VIDEO

IN-GAME NOTES

–Reign captain Vincent LoVerde was given a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct after his neutral zone hit on San Jose forward Nikolay Goldobin at 15:15 of the second period. The former San Jose 2014 first-rounder had to be helped off the ice, but returned to the ice at the start of the third period. Here’s a look at the hit:

Goldobin helped off the ice after this LoVerde hit. The captain gets major for kneeing pic.twitter.com/9fLrUwR9ew

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) December 19, 2016

PREGAME NOTES

–Reign scratches: F Patrick Bjorkstrand and the group of injured players – Paul Bissonnette, Andrew Crescenzi, Alex Lintuniemi, Zach Trotman.

–This is the final game for the Reign (12-6-5-0) before the holiday break as today they face the Barracuda (11-6-0-3), a team they are 0-1-1-0 against this season.

–The Reign’s Jack Campbell will match up in net against San Jose’s Troy Grosenick, who is riding a lengthy shutout streak and will get the start again this afternoon. Grosenick has had three shutouts in a row, including last night’s 5-0 win over Bakersfield.

"You shall not pass." – Troy Grosenick

Shutout streak is now up to 241 minutes and 36 secondshttps://t.co/xs7lQMwOzG pic.twitter.com/cjwkWRvcAO

— San Jose Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) December 18, 2016

For more on the Barracuda, visit here.

–Here’s some sound bites from Reign head coach Mike Stothers courtesy of Joey Zakrzewski to preview today’s game:

Pregame Quotes: Coach Mike Stothers focuses on @sjbarracuda. Puck drops in 2 hours! https://t.co/0wMMz2zCN5

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) December 18, 2016