Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

by Marko Ukalovic

The Ontario Reign scored three unanswered goals twice to dominate the San Jose Barracuda 8-4 in a Pacific Division matchup on Friday evening at Citizens Business Bank Arena.

San Jose (30-15-2-4) drew first blood on the power play in the first period. TJ Hensick scored his second goal of the season at the 5:47 mark. Nick DeSimone and Jeremy Roy received assists.

Ontario (18-25-5-2) scored the equalizer over three minutes later. Matt Moulson beat Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau (11-10-5) for his team-leading 23rd goal at the 8:54 mark. Mike Amadio and Austin Strand received assists.

Alex True scored the first of his two goals a little more than half way through the period at the 11:35 mark. His team-leading 19th goal of the season were assisted by Jon Martin and Jonathan Dahlen, his first point as a member of the Barracuda.

The Reign evened up the score on the power play late in the opening frame. Defenseman Kale Clague scored his sixth goal of the season at the 17:33 mark. Amadio and Moulson received the assists.

Anti Soumela gave San Jose their last lead of the game on the power play early in the second period. He beat Reign goalie Cal Petersen (8-13-3) for his fourth goal of the season at the 4:30 mark.

Ontario scored three unanswered goals in a five-minute span to take control of the game. Sheldon Rempal scored his 12th goal of the season at the 6:56 mark. Then less than two minutes later Nikita Scherbak scored his fourth goal of the season at the 8:50 mark. Brett Sutter finished off the scoring for the Reign in the second period with his 13th goal of the season at the 11:49 mark.

In the third period, True brought the Cuda back to within one goal with his second goal of the night and 20th of the season at 7:06 mark. Jayden Halbgewachs and Dahlen assisted on the goal. Dahlen earned a two-point night.

Ontario put the game away scoring the final three goals of the game. Amadio scored his third goal of the season at the 12:50 mark. Rempal scored his second goal of the night and 13th of the season just 16 seconds later at the 13:06 mark. Moulson finished off the scoring with an empty-netter for his second goal and team leading 24th goal of the season at the 16:05 mark.

Petersen had an impressive busy evening making 52 saves on 56 shots to earn his eighth victory of the season. Bibeau made 37 saves on 44 shots in suffering the defeat.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 2/5 on the power play. Ontario was 1/3.

The announced attendance was 8,711.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda take on the Bakersfield Condors on Saturday 3/2 at 7:00 pm at Rabobank Arena.