March 25: Reign 4, Heat 2 + postgame notes/video

Ontario Reign 4, Stockton Heat 2
Final

Radio Feed
Box Score

SOG: ONT – 28; STK – 28
PP: ONT – 2/5; STK – 0/4

First Period
1) ONT PPG – Jonny Brodzinski (13) (Michael Mersch), 13:26
2) STK – Turner Elson (12) (unassisted), 14:44

Second Period
3) ONT – Justin Auger (16) (unassisted), 1:27
4) ONT – Sean Backman (21) (Kris Newbury), 11:55

Third Period
5) STK – Brett Kulak (3) (Hunter Shinkaruk, Kenney Morrison), 1:08
6) ONT PPG – Jeff Schultz (3) (Zach Leslie, Adrian Kempe), 8:32

Ontario Reign (38-15-4-1, .698 win %) vs. Stockton Heat (27-26-2-2, .509)
Friday, March 25, 2016, 7 p.m. PT
Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, CA
Referees: #44 Kendrick Nicholson, #2 Jarrod Ragusin
Linesmen: #80 Landon Bathe, #23 Adam Bell
AHL Live, Mixlr Radio

ONT starters: G Peter Budaj, D Kevin Gravel, D Kurtis MacDermid, LW Michael Mersch, C Kris Newbury, RW Sean Backman
ONT scratches: D Vincent LoVerde, F Paul Bissonnette, F Matt Schmalz, F Jordan Samuels-Thomas

STK starters: G Kevin Poulin, D Ryan Culkin, D Dustin Stevenson, LW Turner Elson, C Derek Grant, RW Emile Poirier
STK scratches: G Kent Simpson, G Jon Gillies, F Mason Raymond, D Gabriel Verpaelst, F Austin Carroll, F Colton Orr, D Aaron Johnson, D Yann Sauve

Also …

–The Reign went a perfect 4-for-4 on the penalty kill in the first period, including a 5-on-3 that featured Peter Budaj’s paddle save on Derek Grant. Video courtesy of Sheng Peng:

Budaj w/ the paddle for @ontarioreign ! Denies Grant on @AHLHeat 5v3 pic.twitter.com/wIp95bCfbW

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 26, 2016

–Jonny Brodzinski’s 13th goal of the year, put the Reign up 1-0 in the first on the power play.

Brodzinski forces it home on the PP! @ontarioreign 1 @AHLHeat 0 pic.twitter.com/ELO2aFMf7H

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 26, 2016

–A fumble by Ryan Horvat resulted in the Heat’s equalizer in the first by Turner Elson.

Elson takes advantage of a Horvat miscue @AHLHeat 1 @OntarioReign 1 pic.twitter.com/M9k2PiefE5

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 26, 2016

–Justin Auger gives the Reign the lead at 2-1 on a shot from the left circle that beats Kevin Poulin.

Auger from half wall, gets it for now @Ontarioreign 2 @AHLHeat 1 pic.twitter.com/g8oo5v1yGg

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 26, 2016

–Kris Newbury, Sean Backman and Michael Mersch are off to the races on a 3-on-1 after a turnover by the Heat. Newbury makes no mistake in cross-ice feed to set up Backman on a one-timer. Backman’s 21st of the season ties Mersch for the Reign lead.

Textbook 2-on-1 pass, Newbury to Backman! @OntarioReign 3 @AHLHeat 1 pic.twitter.com/PfV6DIKpak

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 26, 2016

–Jeff Schultz provides an insurance PPG in the third on a shot from the point, his third of the season.

Sarge Schultz fires the cannon on the PP! @ontarioreign 4 @AHLHeat 2 pic.twitter.com/XzBof8L50f

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 26, 2016

–The Reign’s magic number to clinch a playoff spot is now 1 point, which they can earn against the Heat on Saturday at 6 p.m. with a tie or win.

–Brodzinski has goals in back-to-back games for the third time this season and now has five points in the last four games.

–Auger has goals in back-to-back games and four points in the last four games.

–Backman has goals in back-to-back games and four goals (five points) in the last five games.

–The Reign improved to 29-0-0-0 when leading after two periods of play.

–Budaj made his 14th straight start in net, stopping 26 shots for his AHL-leading 37th win.

–Ontario improved to 6-2-1-0 against the Flames affiliate.