Ontario Reign’s TJ Tynan (#17) and Sameul Fagemo (#11) celebrate the game winning goal against the San Jose Barracuda at Toyota Arena on Saturday JAN 6, 2024. (Ontario Reign)

by Marko Ukalovic

Sameul Fagemo recorded a hat trick, including the game winning goal in overtime to give the Ontario Reign a 5-4 victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Saturday evening at Toyota Arena.

San Jose has lost two in a row as they dropped both games of the weekend series. Ontario, with the sweep, has won three of its past four games.

T.J. Tynan set up Fagemo’s heroics with a drop pass in the right wing. Fagemo utilized a screen in front of ‘Cuda goalie Magnus Chrona as he deposited a wrist shot to the short side at the 2:17 mark of the extra session to complete his hat trick and team leading 16th goal of the season to send the crowd of 8,329 home happy.

Ontario drew first blood with Fagemo’ first goal of the goal game 42 seconds into the first period. Charles Hudon sent a rink wide pass over to Fagemo along the right wing and the Reign winger sent a quick shot past Chrona for his 14th goal of the season.

The Reign doubled its lead late in the opening frame with an even strength goal. Wyatte Wylie set up Samuel Helenius up at the point and the Reign defenseman beat Chrona with a wrist shot through a sea of traffic in front of him for his fourth goal of the season at the 15:54 mark.

Akil Thomas scored Ontario’s third unanswered goal of the game on the power play near the halfway mark of the second period. Thomas cleaned up the rebound off of a Fagemo one-timer from the left wing for his 10th goal of the season at the 8:29 mark. Thomas has scored in back-to-back games against the ‘Cuda.

San Jose started their comeback early in what would be a four-goal third period with a goal on the man advantage. Jacob Peterson found Radim Simek up at the point. Simek held the puck before firing a seeing-eyed shot past Reign goalie Jaocb Ingham for his fourth goal of the season at the 1:47 mark.

Ontario regained its three-goal lead just past the halfway mark of the period. Fagemo scored his second goal of the contest when he redirected a Cody Haiskanen shot from the point past Chrona for his 15th goal of the season at the 11:20 mark.

The Barracuda answered back just over a minute and half later. Ethan Frisch skated down the right wing before centering a pass through the crease where Shakir Mukhamadullin tapped home the puck past Ingham for his fifth goal of the season at the 12:36 mark.

Scott Sabourin brought the ‘Cuda to within one goal with a power play goal three minutes later. Nathan Todd’s low shot from the point was tipped in by Sabourin, who was camped out in front of the crease, for his eighth goal of the season at the 15:54 mark.

Sabourin scored the equalizer, his second of the game with 2:05 remaining in the period with an even strength goal. Cole Cassels centered the puck over to Sabourin unmarked in front of the crease and the ‘Cuda winger banged home the puck into the back of the net for his ninth goal of the season.

Ingham (2-0-0) finished with 21 saves on 25 shots in winning his second start of the season. Chrona (4-7-3-0) made 22 saves on 27 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 2-for-3 on the power play. Ontario was 1-for-6.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Fagemo 2) Sabourin 3) Hudon.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns home to host Ontario on Tuesday 1/9 at 7:00pm at Tech CU Arena.