Game 32: Reign 3, Bakersfield 2 + postgame notes/video

Ontario Reign 3, Bakersfield Condors 2
Final

Radio feed
Box score

SOG: ONT 42, BAK 26
PP: ONT 1/3, BAK 1/3

ONT starters: G Jack Campbell, D Rob Scuderi, D Paul LaDue, LW Michael Mersch, C T.J. Hensick, RW Teddy Purcell
BAK starters: G Nick Ellis, D Mark Fayne, D Griffin Reinhart, LW Ryan Hamilton, C Anton Lander, RW Taylor Beck

FIRST PERIOD
1) ONT – Brett Sutter (9) (Vincent LoVerde, Damir Sharipzianov), 11:32

SECOND PERIOD
2) ONT PPG – Adrian Kempe (9) (Vincent LoVerde, Zac Leslie), 5:26
3) BAK PPG – Ryan Hamilton (13) (Taylor Beck, Jesse Puljujarvi), 7:38
4) ONT – T.J. Hensick (10) (Daniel Ciampini, Sam Herr), 13:48

THIRD PERIOD
5) BAK – Anton Lander (14) (Taylor Beck), 4:19

POSTGAME NOTES

–With the win, Ontario remains first in the Pacific Division with a 19-7-6-0 record and .688 winning percentage. They improve to 3-0-1-0 this season against the Condors, who dropped to 14-12-4-1. The Reign improved to 9-5-1-0 at home.

–Goalie Jack Campbell made his 17th straight start in net and made 24 saves to improve to 16-4-3 this season. He’s 5-1-0 in starts on back-end of back-to-backs this season.

–Vincent LoVerde recorded two assists and continues to lead the Reign defense in points with 20 (5-15).

–Ontario went 1-for-3 on the power play and remains in second place in the AHL at 27.0 percent.

–Damir Sharipzianov’s assist on Brett Sutter’s first period goal was his first pro point in his 16th appearance.

–T.J. Hensick’s goal was his 10th of the season, joining Michael Mersch as the only other player to hit the double-digit mark this season. Hensick continues to lead the Reign in points with 28 (10-18).

–Zac Leslie has an assist in each of the last five games as he notched one tonight on the secondary assist on Kempe’s goal.

–Daniel Ciampini’s assist on Hensick’s goal was his first as a member of the Reign in his second game.

–Adrian Kempe’s goal marked his third in his last five games.

VIDEO

IN-GAME NOTES

–Michael Mersch was hit awkwardly late in the first period along the near boards in the Bakersfield zone by Kyle Platzer. The left winger skated to the bench gingerly and was later seen being attended to by head trainer Mike Muir making one-legged squat-like movements. He did not take another shift in the period and did not come to the bench for the second.

PREGAME NOTES

–Here’s how the Reign appeared in line rushes:

Brett Sutter – Mike Amadio – Sean Backman
Justin Auger – Adrian Kempe – Jonny Brodzinski
Michael Mersch – T.J. Hensick – Teddy Purcell
Sam Herr – Andrew Crescenzi – Daniel Ciampini

Damir Sharipzianov – Vincent LoVerde
Rob Scuderi – Paul LaDue
Alex Lintuniemi – Zac Leslie

–Kurtis MacDermid did not take part in line rushes and will be a healthy scratch for the first time in his career with Ontario. MacDermid took an unsportsmanlike penalty that resulted in a 5-on-3 power play for San Jose a night ago. After the game, head coach Mike Stothers said in Bus Texts: “Too many penalties, too may poor penalties, too many of the same guys killing penalties and too many guys sitting on the bench that don’t kill penalties. Same crap we dealt with at the start of the year. Not a fan of these poor decisions.”

–Scratches tonight: F Patrick Bjorkstrand, F/D Paul Bissonnette, F Michael Latta, F Joel Lowry, D Zach Trotman and MacDermid.

–Ontario is 2-0-1-0 against Bakersfield this season. The teams met last Saturday in the Outdoor Classic, which resulted in a 3-2 OT loss for the Reign.

–Goalie Jack Campbell led team out for warmups and will make his 17th straight start.