The Ontario Reign came up short in a 4-3 shootout loss to San Jose on Thursday evening.
It was quite the night for coach Marco Sturm, as he was able to complete a pregame lineup card that included Quinton Byfield, Alex Turcotte, and Sammy Fagemo. It was the first time the former pair would be playing in the AHL this season.
In Turcotte’s return to the ice for the first time since last season, he led several nice plays, including using his IQ and skills to make a clean pass on a zone entry that led to a high-quality scoring chance.
Byfield, the Kings top prospect, made his season debut for the Reign after starting the year in Los Angeles. He looked confident with the puck, and also was effective at creating offensive opportunities.
Despite a high-paced opening frame, with multiple scoring chances, things were scoreless after 20 minutes.
Ontario dominated the majority of period two and broke through early, scoring less than a minute into the period. Lias Andersson wristed his fifth of the season from the outside of the right circle, along the wall. Just moments later, Tyler Madden recorded his second of the season to extend Ontario’s lead, as he pounced on a loose puck in front of the net.
San Jose eventually deflected a puck past goalie Phoenix Copley to end the middle frame trailing Ontario 2-1. They added a pair of goals seven minutes into the third period, gaining their first lead of the night.
Ontario was later granted a five-minute power play after Byfield was hit from behind, which turned into a full two-minute 5-on-3; however, they were not able to cash in. During the final minute of regulation, though, Taylor Ward knotted the game at three when he whipped a backhand shot past the Barracuda netminder.
When overtime didn’t yield a goal on either side, it was up to a shootout to decide things.
Akil Thomas notched a goal in the shootout, but that wasn’t enough to beat the Barracuda.
Lias Andersson scores his 5th goal of the season! 1-0 #Reign
Assisted by: Moverare(2), Tynan(14) pic.twitter.com/OSuftTY8hR
— Eric (@kingsgifs2) November 11, 2022
Tyler Madden makes it 2-0 #Reign
Assisted by: Ward(2), Thomas(3) pic.twitter.com/af6JjKiDS7
— Eric (@kingsgifs2) November 11, 2022
Quinton Byfield is slow to get up after being checked from behind.
Adam Raska gets a major penalty for checking from behind pic.twitter.com/Xqdr213ud9
— Eric (@kingsgifs2) November 11, 2022
Akil Thomas scores in the shootout #Reign pic.twitter.com/BkLJMLReok
— Eric (@kingsgifs2) November 11, 2022
RELATED CONTENT:
Ontario Reign: Projected Lineup at San Jose; With Trio of Top Kings Prospects Returning
Lead photo courtesy of SJ Barracuda
Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-522840723937225840-1’); });