Barracuda Top Reign in OT, 5-4
Oct 22, 2016
Ontario, CA - The San Jose Barracuda out shot the Ontario Reign 31-to-15, but still needed extra time to earn their first win of the season, 5-4, over the Reign on Saturday night at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario.
Danny O'Regan netted his second of the year in overtime to earn the win for San Jose.
After Joakim Ryan was popped for a four-minute double minor for high sticking at 7:20 of the first, Ontario continued their league-leading power play when Patrick Bjorkstrand (1) sniped a lose puck in the high slot over the shoulder of Mantas Armalis at 10:25. San Jose countered on their first power play of the game at 14:48 of the first when Marcus Sorensen collected a backdoor rebound and pumped it past Jonah Imoo.
In the second, the Barracuda took its first lead on Kevin Lebanc's (1) first career pro goal after he redirected Tim Heed's shot from the point at 2:41. The Reign made it 2-for-2 on the power play and tied the game on Bjorkstrand (2) second of the game at 5:14. The seesaw battle continued when Ryan received a Nikolay Goldobin feed from below the far circle and potted it in the open far side at 8:52. Veteran AHL forward Brett Sutter (1) then tipped a shot from the left point to tie the game, 3-3, at 12:49. Goldobin (1) recaptured San Jose's lead by ripping a slap shot just inside the low far side post and from the top of the left circle at 13:58.
Up 4-3, Andrew Crescenzi (1) one-timed a barracuda d-zone turnover in the high slot to even it up at 2:44. O'Regan (2) looked to have made it 5-4, but upon further review, it was ruled his shot hit the crossbar and never crossed the goal line. In overtime at 3:29 O'Regan would net the game winner on a breakaway by going for hand backhand.
Mantas Armalis (1-0) earned the win in his first AHL start, stopping 11 of 15 shots he faced. On the other end, Jonah Imoo (0-1) took his first loss in his AHL debut, making 26 of 31 saves.
Three stars: 1st Star - Patrick Bjorkstrand (2 G, 1 A), 2nd Star - Nikolay Goldobin, 3rd Star - Danny O'Regan (1 G, 1 A)
If you haven't got your Barracuda tickets for the home opener on Friday, October 28 against Bakersfield (Edmonton Oilers) you can do so by contacting the Barracuda front office at 408-977-4747 or visit www.sjbarracuda.com