San Jose Barracuda defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin (#85) dives to the ice to swipe the puck away from Ontario Reign forward Colton Young during the Reign’s 3-2 victory at Tech CU Arena on Wednesday MAR 27, 2024. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Taylor Ward scored the game winning goal for the Ontario Reign in the third period as they defeated the San Jose Barracuda 3-2 on Wednesday evening at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose has lost two out of its last three as it finished 2-2 on its homestand. Ontario has won four games in a row. The Reign are tied with the Tucson Roadrunners for second place in the Pacific Division with 77 points.

San Jose (20-31-9-2-51 points) drew first blood on the opening shift of the game. Danil Gushchin threaded a pass between two Reign defenders over to Brandon Coe and the ‘Cuda winger beat former San Jose Sharks goalie Aaron Dell with a wrist shot top shelf to the far side for his 11th goal of the season 15 seconds into the first period.

The Barracuda doubled its lead late in the opening frame. Cole Cassels used a backhand pass from the behind the net to center the puck out to Nathan Todd who made one move inside before sliding the puck past the five-hole of Dell for his 17th goal of the season at the 13:04 mark.

Ontario (35-21-3-4-77 points) cut the lead in half early in the second period with an even strength goal. Tyler Madden sent a pass up to the Barracuda blue line over to Charles Hudon. The Reign forward made a touch pass over to Akil Thomas who skated in an beat ‘Cuda goalie Magnus Chrona with a wrist shot top shelf for his 22nd goal of the season at the 6:44 mark.

San Jose had a two-man advantage for 1:16 just past the halfway mark of the middle frame when Madden and Brandt Clarke went to the sinbin for hooking but Ontario was successful in killing off both penalties.

The Reign evened the score with a power play goal late in the second period. TJ Tynan intercepted a clearing attempt by Jack Thompson along the left boards. Tynan centered a pass over to a trailing Hudon who blasted a one-timer past Chrona for his 20th goal of the season at the 18:53 mark.

“They (Ontario) are a good second period team. We haven’t been as of late. We’ve looked at it, we’ve talked about it, and we out and did it again. And it cost us the game,” ‘Cuda head coach John McCarthy said.

Ontario gained its only lead of the game late in the third period thanks to a turnover by the Barracuda in the neutral zone. Martin Chromiak led the counterattack as he sent a cross ice pass over to Ward who rifled in a one-timer from just outside the faceoff circle past Chrona for his eighth goal of the season at the 16:22 mark.

“They’re an opportunistic team. They got some guys that can score. So, we can’t spot them grade-A chances and unfortunately, we did, and it ended up in our net,” McCarthy said.

Dell (6-3-1-1) finished the game stopping 32 of the 34 shots he faced as he kept San Jose off the scoreboard in the final two periods to earn his sixth win of the season. Chrona (5-15-4) made 24 saves on 27 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-3 on the power play. Ontario was also 1-for-2.

‘Cuda right winger Akim Aliu has a chance to play on this upcoming road trip as his conditioning is ramping up for his return to the ice according to McCarthy. “Obviously it’s been a while since he’s played. We’re kind of slow playing it as far as getting his conditioning back up. We’re looking at the (upcoming) road trip, probably not the beginning part of it, but we’ll see where were at (with Aliu).”

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Ward 2) Coe 3) Hudon.

UP NEXT: San Jose starts a five-game road trip on Friday 3/29 as the take on the Calgary Wranglers at 12:00pm at the Scotiabank Saddledome.