REIGN POT EIGHT, HAND BARRACUDA 8-4 LOSS
Mar 1, 2019
Ontario, CA - The San Jose Barracuda (30-15-2-4) put a franchise-high 56 shots on net on Friday, but the Ontario Reign (18-25-5-2) (Los Angeles Kings) exploded for eight goals in an 8-4 win at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Friday marked just the fourth time the Barracuda have given up eight goals in a game in their four-year history.
After Ontario's Matt Moulson was popped for holding at 5:15 of the first, former Reign forward T.J. Hensick (2) bounced a back-door pass off an Ontario defender and in at 5:47 to give San Jose a 1-0 lead. The Reign evened the score when Mike Amadio threaded a feed to Moulson (23) in the low slot and the veteran worked around Antoine Bibeau from right-to-left before firing in the equalizer. Alex True(19) made it 2-1 Barracuda at 11:35 as he snuck beyond the Ontario d-core before beating Cal Petersen under the left arm on a breakaway at 11:35, but Kale Clague(6) would punch one off the post, off Bibeau, and past the goal-line on the PP at 17:33 to tie the game at 2-2.
In the second, Antti Suomela (4) swiped in an errant puck along the left wing at 4:30 on the power-play, but the Reign would respond. First, Sheldon Rempal (12) would go top-shelf far-side as he snapped one on net from close range. Then Nikita Sherback (4) would give Ontario a 4-3 lead on a two-on-one at 8:50. And then Brett Sutter (13) would blast one past Bibeau from the high slot at 11:49 as he entered the zone late after being tied up behind the play.
In the final period, True (20) slid in a give-and-go from Jayden Halgewachs for his second of the night at 7:06, but Ontario would counter with a pair before adding an empty-netter. Amadio (3) would snap one through Bibeau's arm at 12:50 before Rempal (13) cashed in for his second of the game after a d-zone breakdown at 13:06. Moulson (24) potted the empty-netter at 16:05.
Bibeau (11-10-5) suffered the loss after allowing seven goals on 44 shots while Petersen (8-13-3) earned the win by making 52 saves on 56 shots.
True's 20 goals make him just the seventh player in franchise history to reach the 20-goal mark.
The Barracuda continue their two-game roadie in Bakersfield on Saturday in the first of three-straight against the Oilers affiliate. The Barracuda return back to SAP Center on Tuesday, March 6 as Team Teal kicks off a five-game home stand. Listen to all the broadcast action on the Sharks + SAP Center App, sjbarracuda.com/listen and watch at watchtheahl.com.
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