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Looking to clinch a spot in next month’s Calder Cup Playoffs, the Ontario Reign traveled up to San Jose Wednesday night to face-off against the Barracuda – a team they were a perfect 6-0 against on the season.
For a group that is tied for last-place among 32 AHL clubs, the Barracuda looked like the better team through the opening 20 minutes. Winners of three straight at home last week, the odds appeared to be working against the Reign early on, as the NorCal contingent scored just 15 seconds after puck drop. That wasn’t the welcome goaltender Aaron Dell was hoping for in his season debut against the team he suited up for over seven seasons and the area where he still has a home.
Compounding the situation, San Jose added another goal later in the period when their leading scorer was able to sneak a five-hole shot through Dell to finish the opening stanza with a 2-0 lead against Ontario.
As coach Marco Sturm addressed in Wednesday’s projected lineup article, the Reign have struggled in first periods as of late, scoring in only 6 of the last 22 opening frames.
Whatever he said in the first intermission must have stirred the embers, because Ontario flipped the script and found that urgency Sturm’s been stressing with his players. Just 6:44 into the middle period, Akil Thomas (22) grabbed a pass from Charles Hudon (who was making a surprise return from injury after missing four games) and wristed a low, far shot that beat the San Jose goalie to cut the lead in half, 2-1.
Akil stays RED HAWT
#ReignTrain | #ONTvsSJ pic.twitter.com/zufWPF23SF
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) March 28, 2024
The visitors didn’t stop there. In the dying moments of the period and on the power play, Hudon (20) was teed up for a one-timer directly in the slot to make an even score of 2-2 to round out 40 minutes of play.
Ontario may have opened the final period of play tied, yet it was the Barracuda that looked hungry for a win. Struggling to get shots on goal, the Reign offensive attack only registered three SOG in the first 13:35 of the third; however, still tied late in regulation, a crisp one-timer from the top of the circles by Taylor Ward (8) was the difference-maker and stood as the game-winning goal in a 3-2 Ontario victory.
With the win, and subsequent Gulls loss to the Condors, the Reign clinched a playoff spot for the sixth time in their eight-season AHL history. They still have nine regular season games remaining, so their final Pacific Division seed is still to be determined.
Even so, the ‘Reign Train’ is steaming into the playoffs with a record of 13-4-3 over their past 20 games and riding a four-game winning streak. They return home Saturday to play a rematch against the Bakersfield Condors at Toyota Arena.
“Killer” Thomas: After scoring his career high 22nd goal, Thomas boasts a four-game goal scoring streak with seven points (5G, 2A) in that span, including three game-winning goals in a row. Mayor’s Manor had a chance to catch up with the 24-year-old after last week’s game.
Dell’s Return: The 34-year-old veteran returned to a familiar place in San Jose, but also to a place in his own personal game that he can be proud of right now. After a shaky start, Dell has earned points for his team in seven straight games, posting a record of 6-0-1.
Heating Up: Kings prospect Tyler Madden has found a bit of consistency recently while playing on the second line with Thomas. Over the past four games, Madden has grabbed five points (2G, 3A), posted eight shots on goal, and earned a plus-6 rating.
The Crease Crunch: With the benefits of a healthy rotation between Dell and rookie Erik Portillo, the goaltending is the least of Sturm’s worry heading into the final chapter of the regular season. Over the past 20 games, Ontario goaltenders have a combined .937 save-percentage and a 1.85 goals-against-average thanks to their stellar play and the team-wide focus on defending.
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