Weekly Wrap-Up: Reign Take 2 of 3 in 4 Days
- Updated: February 20, 2017
After two resounding victories and one loss last week, the Ontario Reign find itself 26-13-8-0, tied in the Pacific Division for second with those pesky San Diego Gulls and four points behind the league-leading San Jose Barracuda, which was the victor in the matchup Saturday night, 2-0.
But first, let’s rewind to a couple of victories.
Wednesday, February 15, the Reign outshot the Iowa Wild 27-21 and took the contest 3-1. Goalie Jack Campbell grabbed his 20th win and made 12 saves in the final period alone, giving up the only goal with less than four minutes remaining while the Reign was on the power play. Brett Sutter and Sean Backman each racked up two points, while Jonny Brodzinski posted his 19th goal on the season.
Two days later, Friday, another win, this time 4-1 against the Tucson Roadrunners.
Campbell blocked 36 shots on the night. Though Tucson scored first, the Reign posted four goals, including Brodzinski’s team-leading 20th of the season. T.J. Hensick posted an assist in his fourth straight game.
Now for the downer. Saturday’s game saw the Reign get blanked by the Barracuda 2-0, after being outshot 31-20. Campbell, who started his 32nd straight game, made 29 saves but it wasn’t enough.
Three games in four nights. Said coach Mike Stothers, “I am never going to use that as an excuse. You can write it. You can print it. You can exclaim it. You can put it across the ticker on a TV. I don’t care. That’s not an excuse, I’m never going to accept it.”
Two out of three wins not bad either, especially with a team that has been without certain players, either injured, or – in the case of Paul LaDue and Adrian Kempe – sent up to the affiliate Los Angeles Kings.
“It’s a different look. It’s going to take some time for those guys that weren’t getting those minutes to get used to it. And the guys that do? Win a frickin’ draw. And you’ve got possession and you’ve got a chance to get something going to the net. But that’s why we have practice Monday and Tuesday.”
Post Tuesday, the Reign will once again play the Roadrunners, at 7 p.m., Wednesday, February 22 at the Citizens Bank Arena.
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