March 22: Reign 5, Condors 2 + postgame notes/video

Ontario Reign 5, Bakersfield Condors 2
Final

Radio Feed
Box Score

SOG: ONT – 27; BAK – 41
PP: ONT – 0/2; BAK – 0/2

First Period
1) ONT – Joel Lowry (2) (Andrew Crescenzi, Zach Leslie), 3:20
2) ONT – Jonny Brodzinski (12) (Michael Mersch, Kevin Gravel), 3:48
3) ONT – Ryan Horvat (5) (Kevin Raine, Matt Leitner), 11:34
4) BAK – Josh Currie (6) (Joshua Winquist, Joey LaLeggia), 13:03

Second Period
5) ONT – Justin Auger (15) (unassisted), 7:44
6) BAK – Dillon Simpson (3) (Joshua Winquist, Marc-Olivier Roy), 18:30

Third Period
7) ONT ENG – Sean Backman (20) (Michael Mersch), 19:24

Ontario Reign (37-15-4-1, .693 win %) at Bakersfield Condors (27-22-6-2, .544)
Tuesday, March 22, 2016, 7 p.m. PT
Rabobank Arena, Bakersfield, CA
Referees: #8 Ryan Hersey, #43 Tom Chmielewski
Linesmen: #37 Brett Martin, #33 Mike Voyer
AHL Live, Mixlr Radio

ONT starters: G Peter Budaj, D Derek Forbort, D Nick Ebert, LW Joel Lowry, C Andrew Crescenzi, RW Justin Auger
ONT scratches: D Vincent LoVerde, F Paul Bissonnette

BAK starters: G Niklas Lundstrom, D Brad Hunt, D Dillon Simpson, LW Ryan Hamilton C Philip McRae, Philip, RW Zach Boychuk
BAK scratches: G Eetu Laurikainen, F Kyle Platzer, F Mitch Moroz, F Kale Kessy

Also …

–Joel Lowry with his second goal of the season put the Reign up 1-0 just 3:20 in, this coming after the Reign allowed the first goal in their previous three games. Video below, thanks to Sheng Peng:

Lowry capitalizes early w/ wicked wrister @ontarioreign 1 @Condors 0 pic.twitter.com/D0gvKRDsaE

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 23, 2016

–Jonny Brodzinski and Michael Mersch hooked up for the next goal just 28 seconds later in the first period.

Brodzinski starts from the corner before Mersch hits him in front @ontarioreign 2 @Condors 0 pic.twitter.com/G1YiIwJ9TV

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 23, 2016

–Ryan Horvat’s tip of a Kevin Raine point shot gave the Reign a 3-0 lead midway through the first.

Horvat with textbook deflection of Raine point shot @ontarioreign 3 @Condors 0 pic.twitter.com/oGXNSvHFkG

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 23, 2016

–The Condors got on the board after Josh Currie fooled Adrian Kempe and then fooled goalie Peter Budaj from the slot.

Currie from the high slot, beats Budaj @ontarioreign 3 @Condors 1 pic.twitter.com/vUBuECxqSq

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 23, 2016

–The sides traded goals in the frame, including a bizarre goal by Justin Auger from behind the goal line.

Look at your bottom right corner for Auger @ontarioreign 4 @Condors 1 pic.twitter.com/MS4oIBJ0YG

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 23, 2016

–With Nic Dowd recalled to the Kings and making his NHL debut in Tuesday’s game against the Wild, and with also Jordan Samuels-Thomas (lower body) out of the lineup, the Reign aligned up front as such:
Lowry – Crescenzi – Auger
Kempe – Newbury – Backman
Mersch – Sutter – Brodzinski
Horvat – Leitner – Raine

–Dowd was one of the remaining players to dress in all 57 games heading into Tuesday and now that stat is held by just Sean Backman and Justin Auger, who have now appeared in all 58 Reign games this season.

–Mersch wore an alternate captain “A” on his jersey with Dowd out the lineup.

–Budaj tied a season-high with 39 saves for his 36th win in his 51st game. Budaj also made 39 saves in against Stockton on Dec. 29, a 2-1 Ontario win.

–Lowry’s goal was his first since Dec. 20, also against Bakersfield, in a 2-1 win.

–By finishing with two assists, Mersch now has 6 points in his last 5 games.

–Backman’s ENG was his 20th of the season, one behind Mersch’s team-leading 21.