Game 16: Reign 4, Tucson 1 + postgame notes/video

Ontario Reign 4, Tucson Roadrunners 1
Final

Radio feed
Box score

SOG: ONT 35, TUC 25
PP: ONT 0/2, TUC 0/4

ONT starters: G Jack Campbell, D Vincent LoVerde, D Damir Sharipzianov, LW Sam Herr, C Brett Sutter, RW Jonny Brodzinski
TUC starters: G Marek Langhamer, D Jarred Tinordi, D Zbynek Michalek, LW Garret Ross, C Mark Olver, RW Eric Selleck

FIRST PERIOD
1) ONT – Brett Sutter (3) (Sam Herr, Jonny Brodzinski), 3:56
2) TUC – Eric Selleck (3) (Mark Olver), 7:17

SECOND PERIOD
3) ONT – Michael Latta (1) (Andrew Crescenzi, Joel Lowry), 13:13

THIRD PERIOD
4) ONT – T.J. Hensick (7) (Michael Mersch, Vincent LoVerde), 2:12
5) ONT – Justin Auger (5) (Joel Lowry, MacDermid), 18:34

POSTGAME NOTES

–The Reign improved to 7-5-4-0 and 1-1-1-0 this season in meetings with Tucson, which dropped to 9-4-2-0 and lost consecutive games for the first time. The Reign improved to 5-5-4-0 against Pacific Division opponents.

–The Reign’s penalty kill finished 4-for-4 to improve to 60-for-77 (77.9 percent) on the season, which included two kills in the last five minutes of the second period. That put a lid on Tucson’s league-leading power play, which dropped to 21-for75 (28 percent). The Reign’s power play finished 0-for-2, dropping to 15-for-58 (25.9 percent).

–Goalie Jack Campbell finished with 24 saves on 25 shots to improve to 4-2-1-1. Campbell has started four of the Reign’s last six games and returned to action after backing-up Jack Flinn last Sunday due to a groin injury.

–Michael Mersch added an assist on T.J. Hensick’s third period goal and continues to lead the team in assists with nine. Mersch has six assists in the last seven games but is on a 12-game goal drought.

–Hensick (7-6=13) had a goal and Jonny Brodzinski (5-8=13) had an assist to keep pace with one another for the team points lead.

–Michael Latta scored his first goal as a member of the Reign, which counted as the game-winner. It was his first point since Nov. 4 against Tucson and first in his last eight appearances.

–Joel Lowry had two assists for his first points of the season in his 10th game.

–With an assist on Latta’s goal, Andrew Crescenzi now has three points in his last four games (two goals, one assist).

–The Reign outshot Tucson, 35-25. Adrian Kempe, Brett Sutter and Sam Herr each had four shots on goal for the Reign.

–There were 68 PIMs handed out (46 for Ontario, 22 for Tucson). Damir Sharipzianov was given a game misconduct for instigating a fight in the last 19 seconds with Eric Selleck. The incident was a retaliation against Selleck’s hit on Kurtis MacDermid, which resulted in a charging penalty. Sharipzianov is not eligible to play Saturday vs. Charlotte.

–MacDermid took a tripping minor in the third period for his league-leading 16th minor this season. He has PIMs in nine straight games now.

–The Reign will not have morning skate tomorrow due to an event at CBBA.

VIDEO

PREGAME NOTES

–The Reign aligned as such during line rushes in warmups:

Michael Mersch – T.J. Hensick – Sean Backman
Adrian Kempe – Mike Amadio – Justin Auger
Sam Herr – Brett Sutter – Jonny Brodzinski
Joel Lowry – Andrew Crescenzi – Michael Latta

Damir Sharipzianov – Vincent LoVerde
Kurtis MacDermid – Paul LaDue
Alex Lintuniemi – Zac Leslie

–Tonight’s Reign scratches are D Rob Scuderi, LW Paul Bissonnette, C Patrick Bjorkstrand and D Zach Trotman (upper-body).

–Goalie Jack Campbell will start in net after it was declared earlier in the week that he sustained a groin injury in last Saturday’s loss to San Jose. Head coach Mike Stothers answered today when asked if Campbell was healthy and starting with, “yes and yes.” Campbell practiced fully for the first time on Thursday after missing practices on Tuesday and Wednesday.

–A familiar face will be on the Tucson blue line in the form of defenseman Jamie McBain, who played in three games with the Reign last season before being recalled to the Kings and spending the rest of the season there. McBain, who has two goals and seven assists in 11 games this season, signed with the Coyotes in the offseason.

–Tucson center Tyler Gaudet was recalled by the Coyotes earlier today and will not play tonight. Gaudet has two goals and five assists in 12 games this season.

–The Roadrunners are playing their fourth game without their captain Craig Cunningham, who collapsed to the ice suddenly prior to their game on Nov. 19 and remains hospitalized in critical, but stable condition.