San Diego, CA – Forwards Michael Mersch and Teddy Purcell each recorded two assists and the Ontario Reign (15-6-5-0) won in overtime for the third consecutive contest, taking down the San Diego Gulls (11-11-2-1) 2-1 at Valley View Casio Center Tuesday night. With the win, the Reign extend their winning streak to four games.
Reign goaltender Jack Campbell (W, 38 saves on 39 shots) was tested early and often in the opening period, facing and denying all 19 Gulls attempts to keep the contest 0-0 through 20 minutes of action. The Reign squeaked seven chances towards Gulls rookie keeper Kevin Boyle (OTL, 26 saves on 28 shots).
In the middle stanza, Campbell kept up his stellar play and the Reign caught a break late in the frame as forward Michael Mersch found Teddy Purcell along the right-wing boards and floated a pass back across to a wide open T.J. Hensick for the easy tap-in tally with 38 seconds left. With the points, Purcell and Hensick extended their personal point streaks to five contests.
The Gulls retaliated on the power play midway through the third period as defenseman Brandon Montour blasted a shot from the left point through a screen and past Campbell at 12:28. For the third-straight contest and an AHL-leading 11th time, the Reign moved into overtime where defenseman Paul LaDue on the power play knocked in a rebound over the pads of Boyle at 4:20. Mersch and Purcell picked up assists. The Reign finished the contest 1-for-5 on the man advantage while the Gulls went 1-for-6.
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