Game 64: Reign 4, San Diego 0 + postgame notes/video

Ontario Reign 4, San Diego Gulls 0
Final

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Box score

SOG: ONT 32, SD 30
PP: ONT 2/6, SD 0/3

ONT starters: G Jack Campbell, D Vincent LoVerde, D Damir Sharipzianov, LW Brett Sutter, C Patrick Bjorkstrand, RW Philippe Maillet
SD starters: G Jhonas Enroth, D Andrew Welinski, D Jeff Schultz, LW Jordan Samuels-Thomas, C Sam Carrick, RW Austin Ortega

FIRST PERIOD
1) ONT – Sam Herr (8) (Alexx Privitera, Patrick Bjorkstrand), 14:38

SECOND PERIOD
2) ONT PPG – Vincent LoVerde (8) (Teddy Purcell, T.J. Hensick), 5:37
3) ONT PPG – Mike Amadio (13) (Philippe Maillet), 6:30

THIRD PERIOD
4) ONT ENG – Mike Amadio (14) (Teddy Purcell), 13:07

POSTGAME NOTES

–The Reign have clinched a playoff spot for a second straight season by virtue of this win and Bakersfield’s 4-3 loss against San Antonio. If the playoffs started Saturday, the Reign would face the Gulls in the best-of-5 first round.

–With the win, the Reign improved to 34-20-10-0 overall and 4-3-1-0 against San Diego, which dropped to 40-19-3-2. Ontario improved to 28-19-9-0 against Pacific Division opponents and 13-11-8-0 on the road. The two teams meet again on Saturday at Citizens Business Bank Arena.

–The Reign’s Sam Herr scored the game’s opening goal and Ontario improved to 25-5-5-0 when scoring first. They also improved to 26-1-2-0 when leading going into the third.

–Goalie Jack Campbell made 30 saves to earn his 30th win. The shutout was his fifth of the season and second against the Gulls. His record is now 30-14-6.

–The Reign scored two power play goals (Vincent LoVerde and Mike Amadio) in a 53-second span in the second period. Overall, they won the special teams battle by going 2-for-6 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. Their power play improved to 23.3 percent overall.

–Amadio finished with two goals, the latter being an empty-netter. It was his first multi-goal game of the season.

–Teddy Purcell had two assists and now has two goals and 10 assists in his last 11 games. T.J. Hensick added an assist and now has three goals and seven assists in his last 11.

–The Reign outshot San Diego, 32-30, and were led by were Amadio’s five shots on goal.

VIDEO

PREGAME NOTES

–Here’s how the Reign are aligned tonight:

Michael Mersch – Mike Amadio – Teddy Purcell
Justin Auger – T.J. Hensick – Sean Backman
Brett Sutter – Patrick Bjorkstrand – Philippe Maillet
Joel Lowry – Quentin Shore – Sam Herr

Damir Sharipzianov – Vincent LoVerde
Cameron Schilling – Alexx Privitera
Zac Leslie – Matt Roy

–Tonight’s scratches: D Alex Lintuniemi, D Rob Scuderi, F Paul Bissonnette, D Kurtis MacDermid, F Andrew Crescenzi, F Devin Setoguchi, F Daniel Ciampini, D Zach Trotman.

–The Reign can clinch a playoff berth tonight under these two scenarios:
1. A win against San Diego AND a Bakersfield loss (regulation/OT/SO) at San Antonio
OR
2. An OTL/SOL against San Diego AND a Bakersfield regulation loss at San Antonio

–Earlier today, forward Matt Luff was assigned to Ontario. Luff was signed to a three-year entry-level deal by the Kings last September and recently finished up his season in junior.

19 yo F Matt Luff assigned to ONT. 49 points (25-24=49) in 45 GP w/ OHL-Hamilton. Bulldogs lost a seven-game first round series to Kingston.

— Jon Rosen (@lakingsinsider) April 7, 2017

–The Reign have just five games left in their regular season and will face the Gulls in four of those contests. Ontario is 4-3-1-0 against the Gulls this season and 8-9-2-1 all-time. Five of the eight meetings have been decided by one goal.