Reign Celebrate Fan Appreciation Night Friday; Prepare for Postseason Push
April 4, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Ontario Reign News Release
Ontario Reign Battle the Stockton Heat
(Ontario Reign)
The Week That Was...
The Ontario Reign opened a four-game road trip last week with stops against the San Jose Barracuda, Stockton Heat and Bakersfield Condors for a week record of 1-2-0-0 and improved their Pacific Division-leading record to 40-18-4-1.
The road trip kicked off in San Jose on Wednesday with the final regular-season meeting against the Barracuda. Forward Kris Newbury a goal in the second period, but the Barracuda prevailed 3-1. The Reign completed the head-to-head series with a 9-3-0-0 record.
On Friday, forward Michael Mersch scored his team-leading 22nd goal of the season and forward Justin Auger added a shorthanded tally in the third period in a 3-2 setback to the Heat. The following night, the Reign bounced back and snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over the Condors. Goaltender Peter Budaj earned his AHL-leading ninth shutout, making 35 saves.
The Numbers
Record: 40-18-4-1, .675 winning percentage (1st Place, Pacific Division)
Home: 21-8-3-1
Away: 19-10-1-0
Last 10 Games: 6-4-0-0
Streak: 1-0-0-0
Goals: Michael Mersch (22)
Assists: Nic Dowd* (34)
Points: Sean Backman (54)
Penalty Minutes: Kurtis MacDermid (111)
Power-Play Goals: Sean Backman (8)
Power-Play Assists: Nic Dowd* (11)
Power-Play Points: Sean Backman (18)
Shorthanded Goals: Andrew Crescenzi, Justin Auger (2)
Shorthanded Assists: Five players with one assist
Shorthanded Points: Andrew Crescenzi (3)
Game-Winning Goals: Sean Backman (8)
Wins: Peter Budaj (38)
GAA: Peter Budaj (1.76)
SPCT: Peter Budaj (.929)
*Dowd is currently with the Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
League Leaders:
Forward Sean Backman tied for 13th in the AHL with 54 points (21 goals, 33 assists) and is first in the league with 232 shots and eight game-winning goals. Forward Michael Mersch is third in the AHL with 198 shots.
Goaltender Peter Budaj leads the league with a 1.76 goals-against average (GAA), nine shutouts, 38 wins and 3336 minutes played and is third with a .929 save percentage and 1292 saves.
Defenseman Kurtis MacDermid is fifth among rookies with 111 penalty minutes and tied for second with 28 minor penalties.
This Week:
Ontario Reign at Stockton Heat
Wednesday, Apr. 6
7:00 p.m. PT
Stockton Arena in Stockton, California
Listen Live: OntarioReign.com, AHL Live
Preview: 12th of 12 meetings, 6-4-1-0 head-to-head record
Ontario Reign vs. Bakersfield Condors
Friday, Apr. 8
7:00 p.m. PT
Citizens Business Bank Arena
Fan Appreciation Night
$2 20oz. Bud Lights and Montejo
Sprouts Grocery Bag Giveaway
Listen Live: OntarioReign.com, AHL Live
Preview: 11th of 12 meetings, 6-4-0-0 head-to-head record
Ontario Reign at Bakersfield Condors
Saturday, Apr. 9
7:00 p.m. PT
Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, California
Listen Live: OntarioReign.com, AHL Live
Preview: 12th of 12 meetings
National Hockey League Affiliate Update
Los Angeles Kings
Record: 46-27-5, 97 points
Standing: 2nd Pacific Division, 5th Western Conference
Upcoming Games: Tonight at Vancouver, Tuesday at Calgary, Thursday vs. Anaheim, Saturday vs. Winnipeg
Leading Scorer: Anze Kopitar
ECHL Affiliate Update
Manchester Monarchs
Record: 38-23-4-5, 85 points
Standing: 1st East Division, 3rd Eastern Conference
Upcoming Games: Friday vs. Adirondack, Saturday at Adirondack
Leading Scorer: Maxim Kitsyn
Images from this story
 Ontario Reign Battle the Stockton Heat |
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