Ontario Reign 3, San Jose Barracuda 2
Final
SOG: ONT 23, SJ 37
PP: ONT 1/2, SJ 1/6
ONT starters: G Jack Campbell, D Vincent LoVerde, D Alex Lintuniemi, LW Michael Mersch, C T.J. Hensick, RW Teddy Purcell
SJ starters: G Troy Grosenick, D Jacob Middleton, D Joakim Ryan, LW Ryan Carpenter, C John McCarthy, RW Adam Helewka
FIRST PERIOD
1) ONT – Sam Herr (4) (T.J. Hensick, Sean Backman), 9:39
2) ONT PPG – Sean Backman (7) (Zac Leslie), 13:09
SECOND PERIOD
3) SJ – Nikita Jevpalovs (4) (Rourke Chartier, Patrick McNally), 8:54
4) ONT SHG – Justin Auger (8) (Rob Scuderi), 12:49
5) SJ PPG – Nikolay Goldobin (7) (Joakim Ryan), Daniel O’Regan), 17:21
THIRD PERIOD
No scoring
POSTGAME NOTES
–The Reign improved to 18-7-6-0 overall, 10-2-5-0 on the road and 2-1-1-0 against San Jose (17-9-1-3) this season. The Reign remain in first place in the Pacific Division with a .677 winning percentage.
–With an assist on Sam Herr’s first period goal, T.J. Hensick extended his team scoring lead to 27 points (9-18).
–The Reign’s power play went 1-for-2 and remains in second place in the league at a 26.8 percent rating. The penalty kill went 5-for-6, allowing the one goal on a 5-on-3, and improved to 76.7 percent.
–Goalie Jack Campbell made his 16th straight start and finished with 35 saves, including 18 in the second period alone. His record improved to 15-4-3.
–Justin Auger’s goal was his eighth of the season and second in the last three games. His goal was the team’s second shorthanded goal of the season.
–Sean Backman had a goal and an assist for his sixth multi-point game of the season and second in the last four games.
–Ontario improved to 12-0-1-0 when leading after two periods.
–With the win the Reign avoided what would have been their third three-game losing streak this season.
–Zac Leslie assisted Backman’s first period goal and now has an assist in each of the last four games.
–Kurtis MacDermid had two minor penalties and continues to lead the AHL in minors with 25. He also jumped Michael Latta for the team PIM lead with 65.
–Shots on goal finished 37-23 in favor of San Jose. Backman had a team-high five shots on goal.
VIDEO
IN-GAME NOTES
–Here’s how the Reign aligned at the start of the game:
Michael Mersch – T.J. Hensick – Teddy Purcell
Brett Sutter – Mike Amadio – Sean Backman
Justin Auger – Adrian Kempe – Jonny Brodzinski
Daniel Ciampini – Andrew Crescenzi – Sam Herr
Alex Lintuniemi – Vincent LoVerde
Kurtis MacDermid – Paul LaDue
Rob Scuderi – Zac Leslie
PREGAME NOTES
–In net tonight: Jack Campbell (14-4-3; 2.69, .908) makes his 16th straight start and will face San Jose’s Troy Grosenick (9-6-2; 2.12, .928).
–Scratched for Ontario tonight: D Damir Sharipzianov, F Patrick Bjorkstrand, F/D Paul Bissonnette, F Michael Latta, F Joel Lowry and D Zach Trotman. That means F Daniel Ciampini will be making his Reign debut tonight and D Rob Scuderi is back in after being scratched due to illness on Wednesday.
–Jonny Brodzinski’s younger brother Michael is scratched for San Jose and has appeared in just two games this season.
–The Reign (17-7-6-0) come into this game in San Jose with a 1-1-1-0 record this season against the Barracuda (17-8-1-3). In the last meeting on Dec. 18 the Reign came from behind on the road to win 4-3 in overtime on a goal by Michael Mersch. Ontario is in first place in the Pacific Division with a winning percentage of .667, while San Jose is in second with .655.
–Here’s some audio from head coach Mike Stothers courtesy of Joey Zakrzewski previewing tonight’s game:
Pregame Quotes: What will be the biggest key for the Reign tonight against the @sjbarracuda?https://t.co/uhI87zQFf4
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) January 13, 2017
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