Barracuda forward Scott Reedy battles with Reign forward Taylor Ward at Tech CU Arena on Wednesday OCT 26, 2022. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — All good things come to an end, especially winning streaks.

The San Jose Barracuda suffered its first loss of the season as the Ontario Reign defeated the ‘Cuda 2-1 on Wednesday evening at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose had their first lost after starting out a franchise best 4-0 to begin the 2022-23 season. Ontario has won five of its first six game to start its season.

Ontario (5-1-0-0) drew first blood just 54 seconds into the game. Alan Quine found Rasmus Kupari along the right wing and Kupari beat ‘Cuda goalie Strauss Mann with a wrist shot top shelf to the short side for his third goal of the season.

It was Mann’s first career AHL start. The 24-year-old former US Men’s National Team goalie settled down after giving up the first goal of the game and had a steady game to keep the ‘Cuda’s hope alive, giving them a chance to win the game.

“I was excited to play my first regular season game here,” said Mann when asked to evaluate his performance. “I’ve obviously been in San Jose for a while, been around the guys. It was good to get that game action, get that first out of the way. I think we played well enough to win, it’s just sometimes things don’t go your way.”

San Jose (4-1-0-0) spent most of the opening 20 killing penalties as they weren’t able to offer much of an offensive attack as Ontario outshot San Jose 12-9.

“I touched on that with the guys between the first and the second (period). It disrupts the flow (of the game) and I think if we want to have everybody going, we gotta stay out of the box,” Barracuda head coach John McCarthy said.

The Reign doubled its lead halfway through the second period. A failed clearing attempt by the Barracuda led to Quine finding Taylor Ward in the slot and Ward buried a wrist shot past Mann for his second goal of the season at the 9:51 mark.

San Jose cut the deficit in half with a power play goal late in the middle frame. Andrew Agozzino sent a rink wide pass over to Thomas Bordeleau and the rookie sniper ripped a one-time past Reign goalie Pheonix Copley for his team leading fourth goal of the season at the 16:12 mark.

It’s been good to see him (Bordeleau) get on the score sheet, that’s kind of his game. He’s coming along nicely; he’s been doing some good things (out on the ice). It’s been encouraging,” McCarthy said.

Despite pulling Mann with 90 seconds remaining in the third period for an extra attacker, Copley and the Reign held down the fort to escape with its second road win of the season.

Copley finished stopped 28 of the 29 saves to earn the victory. Mann made 26 saves on 28 in suffering his first professional loss.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-3 on the power play. Ontario was 0-for-6.

San Jose’s penalty kill is a perfect 24-for-24 to start the season.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Copley 2) Ward 3) Bordeleau

UP NEXT: San Jose continues its five-game homestand when they host the Tucson Roadrunners on Friday 10/28 at 7:00pm at Tech CU Arena.