Ontario Reign Weekly: Reign Put Unbeaten Streak on the Line against Pacific-Division Foes
February 8, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Ontario Reign News Release
The Week That Was...
The Ontario Reign welcomed the San Jose Barracuda to Citizens Business Bank Arena on Friday and Saturday last week to take a 2-0-0-0 week record, push their season-high unbeaten streak to nine games (8-0-1-0) and extend their dominance over the Pacific Division and Western Conference with an overall record of 28-10-3-1.
The post-AHL All-Star break weekend kicked off on Friday on Pink in the Rink benefiting Susan G. Komen Inland Empire. The Reign wore pink jerseys, skated on pink ice and in front of a sellout crowd of 9,491, skated away with a 1-0 victory, their third consecutive shutout win. Forward Michael Mersch buried the lone tally and his team-leading 17th goal of the season at 13:52 of the first period and goalie Peter Budaj grabbed his AHL-leading eighth shutout with 22 saves.
Mersch added another tally and extended his personal goal scoring streak to four games (five goals) on Saturday as the Reign erased a two-goal deficit to defeat the Barracuda 3-2 on Loma Linda University Children's Hospital Night in front of another packed arena. Forward Jordan Samuels-Thomas chipped in two assists and Budaj picked up his AHL-leading 26th win.
The Numbers
Record: 28-10-3-1 (1st Place, Pacific Division, 1st in Western Conference)
Home: 17-5-2-1
Away: 11-5-1-0
Last 10 Games: 8-1-1-0
Streak: 8-0-1-0
Goals: Michael Mersch (18)
Assists: Nic Dowd (25)
Points: Sean Backman (35)
Penalty Minutes: Kurtis MacDermid (81)
Power-Play Goals: Sean Backman, Michael Mersch (5)
Power-Play Assists: Nic Dowd (10)
Power-Play Points: Sean Backman (14)
Shorthanded Goals: Sean Backman, Andrew Crescenzi, Jordan Samuels-Thomas (1)
Shorthanded Assists: Four players with one assist
Shorthanded Points: Sean Backman, Jordan Samuels-Thomas (2)
Game-Winning Goals: Sean Backman (5)
Wins: Peter Budaj (26)
GAA: Peter Budaj (1.58)
SPCT: Peter Budaj (.935)
League Leaders:
Forward Sean Backman is first in the AHL with 142 shots and forward Michael Mersch is third with 135 shots.
Goaltender Peter Budaj leads the league with a 1.58 goals-against average (GAA), eight shutouts, 26 wins and 2285 minutes played and a .935 save percentage. Budaj is fourth in the AHL with 862 saves.
Defenseman Kurtis MacDermid is fourth among rookies with 81 penalty minutes.
This Week:
Ontario Reign at San Jose Barracuda
Wednesday, Feb. 10
7:30 p.m. PT
SAP Center in San Jose, CA
Listen Live: OntarioReign.com, AHL Live
Preview: 9th of 12 meetings, 7-1-0-0 head-to-head record
Ontario Reign vs. Bakersfield Condors
Friday, Feb. 12
7:00 p.m. PT
Citizens Business Bank Arena
$2 20 oz. Beer Friday
Ontario Reign Value Pack - Ticket, Hot Dog and Soda for as low as $25!
$10 Top Shelf student and active and retired military tickets (with valid ID) at the Box Office!
Listen Live: OntarioReign.com, AHL Live
Preview: 8th of 12 meetings, 4-3-0-0 head-to-head record
Ontario Reign at Stockton Heat
Saturday, Feb. 13
7:30 p.m. PT
Stockton Arena in Stockton, CA
Listen Live: OntarioReign.com, AHL Live
Preview: 7th of 12 meetings, 4-1-1-0 head-to-head record
National Hockey League Affiliate Update
Los Angeles Kings
Record: 31-17-3, 65 points
Standing: 1st Pacific Division, 4th Western Conference
Upcoming Games: Tuesday at Boston, Thursday at New York Islanders, Friday at New York Rangers, Sunday at New Jersey
Leading Scorer: Anze Kopitar
ECHL Affiliate Update
Manchester Monarchs
Record: 29-14-1-4, 63 points
Standing: 1st East Division, 2nd Eastern Conference
Upcoming Games: Wednesday at Reading, Saturday vs. Elmira, Sunday vs. Elmira
Leading Scorer: Matt Leitner
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