LOS ANGELES -- Yaroslav Askarov had 17 saves as he and the San Jose Barracuda shutout the Ontario Reign 2-0 in Game 1 of the Pacific Division first round of AHL Playoffs Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena.
After a long awaited 47 minutes of hockey where the game had been at a standstill with a score of 0-0, Pavol Regenda found the back of the net for San Jose Barracuda, scoring the first goal in the game with only 13 minutes remaining.
The energy in Crypto.com Arena was lacking, there were only three sections opened up for fans and the voices of players and referees echoed throughout the arena. It was as if it was 2020 all over again.
“I think we picked our worst game of the year at the wrong time,” coach Marco Sturm said in postgame interviews. “Right from the start, guys were a little tight. Different environment here, so we had a hard time finding our game, where we played all year long. We just failed so it was disappointing.”
Just a minute after Regenda ended the scoring drought, Filip Bystedt scored a power-play goal with assists from Colin White and Luca Cagnoni to put the nail in the coffin, giving the Barracuda a 2-0 lead.
Although there were still 11 minutes remaining in the game, it was already over as Ontario had put up only one shot in the third period.
“The energy was missing, even on the bench you felt it,” coach Sturm said. “It’s tough to explain but the guys were not the same they were too tight, they didn’t play our game. They were frustrated because it felt like we didn’t play our game.”
Coach Sturm said the team probably had their worst practice the other day and the way they practiced then was the same way they played tonight.
“Maybe it’s the nerves,” coach Sturm said. “Maybe it’s a lot of new guys. But again, it was not our group and unfortunately it carried over today. But again, that's a process we have to go through and also some of the guys that have to learn from it and move on. I expect them to be better next game.”
The Reign went 0-for-5 on the power play and the Barracuda went 1-for-6.
San Jose had the number one power play in the league during the regular season and although it may have not shown tonight, they scored when it mattered most.
The Reign had seven total penalties tonight, which isn’t something a team wants when their opponent is the top power play team.
“We talked about one of the things we want to be disciplined in and right away we took two penalties,” coach Sturm said. “And I mean that for me says it all. A lot of things we talked about, they were just not there and maybe they were not ready for it. For something more and for me, more is playoff hockey. And again those things we have to correct but I still feel good you know it was a shitty game today, but I feel good. Why do I feel good? Because I know my guys and usually they respond very well.”
Ontario will face San Jose for an elimination Game 2 on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena.
