October 30: Bus Texts with Stothers

Here’s today’s Sunday edition of Bus Texts with Stothers as you all are likely now watching the Kings game and/or the World Series!

Reign 4, San Antonio 2
Sean Backman scored a power play goal and an empty net goal in the third period as the Reign salvaged their three-in-three road swing with a win in their final contest at San Antonio. After trailing 1-0 after the first on a goal by Mike Sislo, the Reign answered with two goals in the second, a point blast from Kurtis MacDermid and a redirect goal by Sam Herr for a 2-1 lead. Adversity hit early in the third as while Adrian Kempe was already serving a 2-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty from the end of the second, Sean Backman and Andrew Crescenzi took cross-checking penalties in the first 1:47, resulting in an elongated 5-on-3 kill. The Rampage capitalized with a Sam Jardine one-timer that beat goalie Jack Flinn at 3:28 and tied the score. But after the game started with eight minors for Ontario to the Rampage’s 1, San Antonio was whistled for two in the third, the second being the one Backman converted on. Backman buried a rebound of a Jonny Brodzinski shot at 12:45 and the veteran iced the game with an empty-netter with 57 seconds left in regulation. Flinn made 19 saves for his first AHL win.

BUS TEXTS WITH STOTHERS
ORI: Team really was able to persevere late after some adversity early in the third. How important was it to just end this trip with a win?
Stothers: I was really impressed with the way we played the last two games. Full 60 minutes of detailed hockey. Totally dialed in in every situation. Not sure about the adversity you are referring to in the third?
ORI: 5 on 3s?
Stothers: Oh that!! The fact that we were given 17 minors to the oppositions 6 in the last two games. Had the same ref two nights in a row. I can sum that up for you in two words. One rhymes with “course” and the other rhymes with “hit”
ORI: I think I’m following you … Hmmm … Three in threes don’t come all that often for your team anymore but have there been positives to take from this busy road trip?
Stothers: We played the way we need to play! It was fun to watch and for the players it was hard to play but well worth the effort. Road trips are not a bad way to start the season. Gets the guys together.
ORI: Good to have Dusty on the bench and not needing him on the ice, at least not yet?
Stothers: Dusty wasn’t needed and that’s a good thing. It means Flinner stayed healthy which hasn’t been easy for the organization’s goalies of late. We will look to address it further when we get back to Ontario.