Sports stats



AHL Ontario Reign

Reign Edge Barracuda in Overtime, 3-2

January 23, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Ontario Reign News Release


Ontario Reign vs. the San Jose Barracuda
Ontario Reign vs. the San Jose Barracuda
(Ontario Reign)

Ontario, CA - Forward Nic Dowd scored the game-winning goal 28 seconds into overtime to help the Ontario Reign (23-10-3-1) rally past the San Jose Barracuda (18-11-5-3), 3-2, on Friday night at Citizens Business Bank Arena. With the goal, Dowd extends his point streak to five games (five goals, one assist). "Obviously, we're always happy for a win, but at the same time, we understand we need to play better those first two periods," said defenseman Vincent LoVerde. "It was a good character win. We were able to regroup in the third and come back and it felt good. We got another game tomorrow and we'll be back to win that one."

Defenseman Karl Stollery put the Barracuda up, 1-0, with a power play goal at 5:31 of the first period after forward Adrian Kempe was given a major penalty for boarding. Forward Nikolay Goldobin sent the puck down low to Stollery who fired it into the net with seven seconds left on the power play.

San Jose extended their lead at 14:00 of the same frame when forward Jeremy Langlois set up forward Trevor Parkes for his eighth goal of the season. Forward Bryan Lerg picked up the secondary assist.

In the second stanza, the Reign's closest opportunity came when forward Scott Timmins was given a four-minute penalty for interference and unsportsmanlike conduct. Less than two minutes later, forward Michael Haley joined him for roughing to make it 5-on-3 hockey. Dowd fired a shot from the left circle and it was initially called a goal, but was turned away upon review.

Building off momentum from the middle frame, Ontario came out strong and got on the board at 1:33 of the third period. Forward Valentin Zykov found an open LoVerde who buried the puck past netminder Aaron Dell (31 saves on 34 shots).

"Z made a good pass from the corner out to me and I was just looking to try to get it through. The puck had eyes and found its way in," said LoVerde on his fifth marker of the season.

Ontario outshot San Jose, 7-3, midway into the third period. Searching for the equalizer, forward Jordan Samuels-Thomas came close with a couple of chances, the most notable on the penalty kill when he tried to bang a shot in, but Dell held tight and denied the forward his eighth tally of the season.

At 18:28, netminder Peter Budaj (20 saves on 22 shots) came out of the net on the power play as Kempe sent a pass through traffic to forward Sean Backman who one-timed it into net to tie the game.

The game remained at two apiece until 0:28 of overtime as LoVerde connected with Dowd for the game-winning marker.

"As soon as I got the puck, my initial thought was to slide it over to Mersch and then as soon as I crossed the blue line I knew I had to shoot the puck," said Dowd. "I think that Mike, and I and Backs have been playing really well together. I think that a lot of the kudos go to those two for making plays all around the ice."

The Reign start a three-game road trip tomorrow, Saturday, January 23 against the San Jose Barracuda at 7:30 p.m. at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. The road trip continues Wednesday, January 27 against the Stockton Heat at 7:00 in Stockton, CA and wraps up Friday, January 29 at San Diego.

The Reign celebrate the 9th Annual Fire and Ice game, the annual Ontario Fire Department charity hockey game and chili cook-off, on Saturday, January 30 at 6:00 p.m. against the Manitoba Moose at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Buy Tickets

Drop the gloves against breast cancer with the Ontario Reign this February on Pink in the Rink! On Friday, February 5, the ice at Citizens Business Bank Arena turns into a frozen pond of pink and the Reign will wear special pinked themed jerseys and host a jersey auction benefiting Susan G. Komen Inland Empire. We want you to join the fight! Grab an exclusive Reign Pink Pack for as little as $30! You get a game ticket with best available seating, exclusive Pink in the Rink t-shirt and a donation to Susan G. Komen! Grab yours NOW at OntarioReign.com and join the fight!

Push the Reign into the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs! The Reign Stretch-Run Pack is on sale now! Grab tickets to four great Reign games, free parking, a $10 gift certificate to Team LA and grab Reign merchandise and a $10 gift certificate to Famous Dave's Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que! Packs start as low as $49! More Information;Buy Packs

Become a "Fan" of the Reign on Facebook at Facebook.com/OntarioReign, join the conversation on Twitter at Twitter.com/OntarioReign and follow us on Instagram at Instagram.com/OntarioReignHockey.

Check out the Ontario Reign Statistics




Images from this story

Ontario Reign vs. the San Jose Barracuda
Ontario Reign vs. the San Jose Barracuda
   

• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...

American Hockey League Stories from January 23, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Ontario Reign Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central