Game 5: Reign 2, Gulls 1 + postgame notes/video

Ontario Reign 2, San Diego Gulls 1
Final (Reign win best-of-7 series, 4-1)

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Box Score
Game 4 Links: Game breakdown | Scoring, notes and video

SOG: ONT – 26; SD – 16
PP: ONT – 0/3; SD – 0/4

First Period
No scoring

Second Period
1) ONT – Joel Lowry (2) (unassisted), 2:33
2) SD – Chris Wagner (2) (Nick Ritchie), 8:31
3) ONT – Justin Auger (3) (Mike Amadio), 8:56

Third Period
No scoring

(1) Ontario Reign vs. (2) San Diego Gulls
Saturday, May 14, 2016, 7 p.m. PT
Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, CA
Referees: #41 Mark Lemelin, #44 Kendrick Nicholson
Linesmen: #87 Devin Berg, #81 Tanner Nua
AHL Live, Mixlr Radio

ONT starters: G Peter Budaj, D Vincent LoVerde, D Kurtis MacDermid, LW Michael Mersch, C Nic Dowd, RW Adrian Kempe
ONT scratches: F Brett Sutter, F Jonny Brodzinski, F Matt Leitner, G Jack Flinn, D Nick Ebert, D Kevin Raine, D Alex Lintuniemi, D Paul LaDue, F Sam Herr

SD starters: G Matt Hackett, D Jaycob Megna, D Brandon Montour, LW Nick Ritchie, C Chris Wagner, RW Chris Mueller
SD scratches: G Kevin Boyle, G Dustin Tokarski, G Anton Khudobin, D Martin Gernat, D Keaton Thompson, D Shane O’Brien, D Stu Bickel, F Kalle Kossila, F Brian McGrattan, F Nic Kerdiles, D Andrew O’Brien, F Kenny Ryan, F Tim Jackman, F Tyler Morley, F Kevin Roy, F Deven Sideroff, D Marcus Pettersson, F Nick Sorensen, D Jacob Larsson

Video

Notes

–The Reign have defeated the Gulls in the Pacific Division finals four games to one to advance to the Western Conference finals where they will meet the winner of the Central Division, either Lake Erie or Grand Rapids. Lake Erie leads that best-of-7 series three games to two with Game 6 on Monday. The Western Conference finals will begin next weekend in Ontario with Game 1 to be played Saturday at 8 p.m. and Game 2 on Sunday at 7 p.m.

–Ontario improved to 5-0 in the postseason when leading after two periods of play. The Reign are now 7-2 in the playoffs and 4-1 on home ice.

–The Reign’s PK finished a perfect 4-for-4 on the night to improve to 27-for-29 in the playoffs overall.

–Peter Budaj made 15 saves to improve to 7-2 in the playoffs.

–The Gulls were the only team to have a winning record against the Reign in the regular season at 8-4-0-0.

–The Gulls’ power play came into the series with a 25 percent success rating and scored two power play goals against Ontario in the five games, finishing the postseason with a 16.6 percentage.

–Justin Auger scored the game-winning goal on his 22nd birthday. He led all players on the ice with 5 shots on goal and has 3 goals and two assists in the postseason.

–Here’s how the Reign appeared in line rushes:

Michael Mersch – Nic Dowd – Adrian Kempe
Justin Auger – Mike Amadio – Sean Backman
Joel Lowry – Ryan Horvat – Paul Bissonnette
Andrew Crescenzi – Kris Newbury – Jordan Samuels-Thomas

Kurtis MacDermid – Vincent LoVerde
Derek Forbort – Kevin Gravel
Jeff Schultz – Zach Leslie

–Gulls D Stu Bickel, who left last night’s game due to injury in the third period, was out of the lineup and Joe Piskula was back in. Mike Sgarbossa played for the Gulls for the first time all series, returning from a lower-body injury.