Game 3: Reign 3, Barracuda 1 + postgame notes/video

Ontario Reign 3, San Jose Barracuda 1
Final (Reign lead best-of-5 series, 2-1)

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Box Score
Game 3 Links: Morning skate notes | Game 3 crucial in 5-game series | Podcast

SOG: ONT – 43; SJ – 17
PP: ONT – 1/2; SJ – 0/2

First Period
1) ONT – Adrian Kempe (1) (Michael Mersch), 7:11

Second Period
2) ONT PPG – Nic Dowd (1) (Jonny Brodzinski, Derek Forbort), 2:34

Third Period
3) ONT – Adrian Kempe (2) (Kris Newbury, Jeff Schultz), 11:27
4) SJ – Nikolay Goldobin (2) (unassisted), 13:28

(1) Ontario Reign vs. (4) San Jose Barracuda
Thursday, April 28, 2016, 7 p.m. PT
Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, CA
Referees: #8 Ryan Hersey, #41 Mark Lemelin
Linesmen: #98 John Grandt, #85 Steve Walsh
AHL Live, Mixlr Radio

ONT starters: G Peter Budaj, D Derek Forbort, D Kevin Gravel, LW Michael Mersch, C Adrian Kempe, RW Jonny Brodzinski
ONT scratches: F Ryan Horvat, D Nick Ebert, D Zach Leslie, F Andrew Crescenzi, F Spencer Watson, F Sam Herr, D Damir Sharipzyanov, F Matt Schmalz, G Jack Flinn

SJ starters: G Aaron Dell, D Gus Young, D Joakim Ryan, LW Barclay Goodrow, C Scott Timmins, RW Ryan Carpenter
SJ scratches: F Raffi Torres, F Petter Emanuelsson, F Daniel Doremus, D Michael Brodzinski, F Alex Gallant, F Frazer McLaren

Notes

–The Reign aligned as such in pregame line rushes and throughout most of the game:
Brett Sutter – Nic Dowd – Sean Backman
Michael Mersch – Adrian Kempe – Jonny Brodzinski
Jordan Samuels-Thomas – Mike Amadio – Justin Auger
Joel Lowry – Kris Newbury – Paul Bissonnette

Kurtis MacDermid – Vincent LoVerde
Derek Forbort – Kevin Gravel
Jeff Schultz – Kevin Raine

–In Games 2 and 3, the Reign have held the Barracuda to just 15 and 17 shots respectively.

–The Reign have a chance to take the best-of-5 series in Friday’s Game 4 at 7 p.m. in Ontario.

–The Reign are 2-0 in this series when scoring the game’s first goal after finishing 31-2-1-0 when scoring first in the regular season.

–With two goals, Adrian Kempe joins Jonny Brodzinski and Kurtis MacDermid for the team lead with two goals in the series. Brodzinski and Nic Dowd each have three points for the team lead.

–The Reign came into Game 3 0-for-6 on the power play and scored on their first attempt in this game, finishing the night 1-for-2 on the man advantage.

–Peter Budaj improved to 2-1 in the series, making 16 saves in the win.

–Mike Amadio made his pro debut and had one shot on goal and finished at an even plus-minus rating.

Video

–Full highlights can be found here:

–The Reign went up 1-0 on a tip-in goal by Adrian Kempe after a curl off the boards from Michael Mersch:

.@adriankempe gives @ontarioreign a 1-0 lead over @sjbarracuda early in 1st period. @TheAHL pic.twitter.com/4tbWtl57D0

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) April 29, 2016

–Nic Dowd missed a penalty shot with 5:25 left in the first period after a San Jose player covered the puck in the crease. Dowd attempted a move to beat Aaron Dell five hole, but the Barracuda goalie made a pad save.

–Just 1:17 into the second period San Jose’s Trevor Parkes hit Sean Backman along the far wall just inside the Reign blue line, resulting in a 5-minute boarding major and a 10-minute game misconduct. Backman left the ice, but later returned after the Reign took a 2-0 lead on the ensuing power play. A Derek Forbort bid went off Jonny Brodzinski in front and Dowd found the puck in the slot and buried it at the 2:34 mark:

.@JimmyDowder26 scores on the PP, @ontarioreign lead @sjbarracuda 2-0 after 2nd. @TheAHL #CalderCup pic.twitter.com/VdrveqwKbY

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) April 29, 2016

–Adrian Kempe makes it 3-1 at the 11:27 mark of the third period, keeping the puck on a 2-on-1 with Brodzinski to score opposite side high:

.@adriankempe adds 2nd G as @ontarioreign beat @sjbarracuda 3-1, take 2-1 series lead @TheAHL #CalderCup pic.twitter.com/qlem3i9MGS

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) April 29, 2016

–Nikolay Goldobin scores the Barracuda’s only goal at 13:18 of the third period off a long shot through traffic:

Yes, that's @Goldobin78 scoring from the blue line. #SJBarracuda pic.twitter.com/6rg73aq6ZV

— San Jose Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) April 29, 2016