Game 34: Tucson 4, Reign 1 + postgame notes/video

Tucson Roadrunners 4, Ontario Reign 1
Final

Radio feed
Box score

SOG: ONT 23, TUC 24
PP: ONT 0/2, TUC 0/2

ONT starters: G Jack Campbell, D Vincent LoVerde, D Alex Lintuniemi, LW Andrew Crescenzi, C Adrian Kempe, RW Sean Backman
TUC starters: G Justin Peters, D Anthony DeAngelo, D Zbynek Michalek, LW Mark Olver, C Tyler Gaudet, RW Henrik Samuelsson

FIRST PERIOD
No scoring

SECOND PERIOD
1) ONT – Sean Backman (8) (Alex Lintuniemi), :52
2) TUC – Mark Olver (4) (Henrik Samuelsson, Tyler Gaudet), 12:31

THIRD PERIOD
3) TUC – Mark Olver (5) (Zbynek Michalek, Anthony DeAngelo), 9:35
4) TUC – Hunter Fejes (1) (Zbynek Michalek), 14:16
5) TUC ENG – Christian Fischer (16) (Tyler Gaudet, Zbynek Michalek), 19:54

POSTGAME NOTES

–With the loss, Ontario (19-9-6-0, .647 winning percentage) saw Tucson (20-9-4-0, .667) take over first place in the Pacific Division as the the Roadrunners earned their fifth straight win. San Jose, which was idle, is now in second place with a 19-9-1-3 record and .656 winning percentage.

–Ontario dropped to 10-4-5-0 on the road and 2-3-3-0 against Tucson this season.

–Ontario’s power play went 0-for-2 but still holds the No. 2 overall spot in the AHL at 26.6 percent. Their penalty kill finished 2-for-2 against Tucson’s potent power play (now at 24.5 percent) but remains second to last in the AHL at 76.3 percent.

–Goalie Jack Campbell made his 19th straight start, stopped 20 shots and saw his record drop to 16-6-3.

–The game was the final of the Reign’s five games in eight days stretch and they finished it out with a 2-3-0-0 record (Jan. 11 – 3-1 L vs. Texas; Jan. 13 – 3-2 W at San Jose; Jan 14. – 3-2 W vs. Bakersfield; Jan. 16 – 3-2 L at Tucson; Jan. 18 – 4-1 L at Tucson).

–Zac Leslie’s 6-game assist streak was snapped.

–The Reign were outshot, 24-23. Vincent LoVerde, Brett Sutter, Adrian Kempe, Jonny Brodzinski and Justin Auger each had three shots on goal.

VIDEO

Backman from the backend! @ontarioreign 1 @RoadrunnersAHL 0 pic.twitter.com/pyjF10SlCi

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 19, 2017

Olver takes advantage of turnover (look for Olver tapping Backman w/ stick after goal) @RoadrunnersAHL 1 @ontarioreign 1 pic.twitter.com/z4BeAAnp7m

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 19, 2017

Tipping well. pic.twitter.com/4hEoHyiZMW

— Tucson Roadrunners (@RoadrunnersAHL) January 19, 2017

Off and running.

Congrats to @HunterFejes on his 1st-career @TheAHL goal! pic.twitter.com/RRRriAtXWK

— Tucson Roadrunners (@RoadrunnersAHL) January 19, 2017

IN-GAME NOTES

–Brett Sutter is wearing an ‘A’ on his sweater in the absence of Michael Mersch, who is missing his second game due to injury.

–Here’s how the Reign aligned at the start of the first period:

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

Alex Lintuniemi – Vincent LoVerde
Kurtis MacDermid – Paul LaDue
Rob Scuderi – Zac Leslie

PREGAME NOTES

–Scratches tonight: D Damir Sharipzianov, F/D Paul Bissonnette, F Michael Mersch, F Joel Lowry, F Daniel Ciampini, D Zach Trotman.

–In net tonight it will be a rematch of Monday’s matchup: Reign’s Jack Campbell vs. Justin Peters. Campbell is making his 19th straight start.

–Forward Adrian Kempe is OK after taking a puck to the ear in Monday’s 3-2 loss. Head coach Mike Stothers said after the game that he would keep Kempe on left wing on the top line with center T.J. Hensick and Teddy Purcell, but he’s in the starting lineup alongside Andrew Crescenzi and Sean Backman.