Game 65: Reign 3, San Diego 1 + postgame notes/video

Ontario Reign 3, San Diego Gulls 1
Final

Radio feed
Box score

SOG: ONT 26, SD 28
PP: ONT 0/3, SD 0/5

ONT starters: G Jack Campbell, D Vincent LoVerde, D Damir Sharipzianov, LW Brett Sutter, C Patrick Bjorkstrand, RW Philippe Maillet
SD starters: G Dustin Tokarski, D Keaton Thompson, D Nate Guenin, LW Antoine Laganiere, C Kalle Kossila, RW Corey Tropp

FIRST PERIOD
1) ONT – Vincent LoVerde (9) (Damir Sharipzianov, Joel Lowry), 9:34

SECOND PERIOD
2) SD – Austin Ortega (2) (Nate Guenin, Tyler Morley), :24

THIRD PERIOD
3) ONT – Zac Leslie (4) (Brett Sutter, Patrick Bjorkstrand), 4:01
4) ONT ENG – Brett Sutter (17) (Justin Auger, Cameron Schilling), 19:09

POSTGAME NOTES

–With the win, the Reign improved to 35-20-10-0 overall and 6-3-1-0 against San Diego, which dropped to 40-20-3-2. Ontario improved to 29-19-9-0 against Pacific Division opponents and 22-9-2-0 at home. The two teams will meet again in a home-and-home next Friday and Saturday to end the regular season.

–For a second straight game the Reign scored the game’s opening goal, a Vincent LoVerde mark at 9:34 of the first. Ontario improved to 26-5-5-0 when scoring first.

–Goalie Jack Campbell made 27 saves to win a second straight game. His record improved to 31-14-6.

–Zac Leslie was credited with the game-winning goal and that mark broke a 43-game goal drought dating back to Dec. 13.

–Brett Sutter finished with an empty-net goal and an assist for his fourth multi-point game of the season.

–The Reign were outshot by San Diego, 28-26, and were led by were LoVerde and Sutter, who had four shots each.

VIDEO

PREGAME NOTES

–Here’s how the Reign aligned in rushes:

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

Damir Sharipzianov – Vincent LoVerde
Zac Leslie – Matt Roy
Alex Lintuniemi – Cameron Schilling

–Tonight’s scratches for Ontario: F Matt Luff, D Rob Scuderi, F Paul Bissonnette, D Kurtis MacDermid, F Andrew Crescenzi, D Alexx Privitera, F Devin Setoguchi, F Daniel Ciampini and D Zach Trotman.

–The Reign clinched a playoff spot on Friday night by virtue of Bakersfield’s loss to San Antonio and then the Reign’s own 4-0 win over San Diego. The victory helped the Reign also improve to 5-3-1-0 against the Gulls this season. Including tonight, the Reign face the Gulls in three of their remaining four regular season games.

–Reign head coach Mike Stothers revealed in last night’s edition of Bus Texts with Stothers that both center Andrew Crescenzi and forward Paul Bissonnette were injured in Wednesday’s loss to San Jose. More will be inquired about their status after tonight’s game.

–Tonight is Military Appreciation Night and the Reign will be wearing special camouflage jerseys, which will be auctioned off after the game to benefit the Bob Hope USO.

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