Game 4: Reign 4, Barracuda 1 + postgame notes/video

Ontario Reign 4, San Jose Barracuda 1
Final (Reign win best-of-5 series, 3-1)

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Box Score
Game 3 Links: Game breakdown | Scoring/notes/video | Player quotes | Stothers quotes

SOG: ONT – 35; SJ – 19
PP: ONT – 0/2; SJ – 0/2

First Period
1) ONT – Nic Dowd (2) (Sean Backman, Kevin Gravel), 9:12

Second Period
2) SJ – Jeremy Langlois (1) (Barclay Goodrow, Ryan Carpenter), 9:58
3) ONT – Justin Auger (1) (Michael Mersch, Andrew Crescenzi), 13:12

Third Period
4) ONT – Jordan Samuels-Thomas (1) (Justin Auger, Andrew Crescenzi), 15:33
5) ONT ENG – Andrew Crescenzi (1) (Vincent LoVerde), 18:33

(1) Ontario Reign vs. (4) San Jose Barracuda
Friday, April 29, 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 Vincent LoVerde, D Kurtis MacDermid, LW Michael Mersch, C Adrian Kempe, RW Jonny Brodzinski
ONT scratches: F Brett Sutter, F Ryan Horvat, D Nick Ebert, D Zach Leslie, F Spencer Watson, D Damir Sharipzyanov, F Matt Schmalz, G Jack Flinn, D Alex Lintuniemi, D Chaz Reddekopp, F Sam Herr

SJ starters: G Aaron Dell, D Gus Young, D Joakim Ryan, LW Scott Timmins, C Bryan Lerg, RW Trevor Parkes
SJ scratches: F Raffi Torres, F Petter Emanuelsson, F Gabryel Boudreau, D Patrick McNally, F Nikita Jevpalovs, F Jon Martin, F Daniel Doremus, F Frazer McLaren

Notes

–The Reign have won the best-of-5 series 3 games to 1 and advance to meet San Diego, victors over Texas, in the next round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. San Diego eliminated Texas in a 6-2 win on Friday night. Game 1 is Thursday night in Ontario and the series will feature a rare 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 format. The Reign went 4-6-1-1 against San Diego in the regular season, the only team they had a losing record against.

–Nic Dowd, who had at least a point in all three wins, led the Reign in scoring in the series with two goals and two assists in the four games. Jonny Brodzinski (2 G, 1 A) and Andrew Crescenzi (1 G, 2 A) each had three points apiece. Crescenzi was also a team-high plus-4.

–In all, the Reign outshot the Barracuda 151-80 in the series.

–The Reign finished a perfect 9-for-9 on the penalty kill in the series and went 2-for-2 in Game 4.

–Peter Budaj improved to 3-1 in the playoffs by making 18 saves.

–Here’s how the Reign aligned in line rushes during warmups:

Sam Herr – 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

–Jonny Brodzinski’s younger brother Michael, a defenseman, made his AHL playoff debut with San Jose and finished minus-2.

Video

–Full highlights can be found here:

–Tough guys Paul Bissonnette and Alex Gallant drop the gloves 1:49 into the contest:

–Nic Dowd makes it 1-0, roofing a rebound for his second of the series in at 9:12 of the first period:

–San Jose ties the game after a long Barclay Goodrow shot is tipped by Jeremy Langlois and gets by Peter Budaj midway through the second period:

tips a Goodrow shot to tie the game! #EndTheReign pic.twitter.com/LZvHnJvzGw

— San Jose Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) April 30, 2016

–Justin Auger puts the Reign back ahead at 2-1, 3:14 after the Barracuda tied it as he and Andrew Crescenzi battle to keep a Michael Mersch rebound alive. Auger finds it and buries it over Dell:

–Jordan Samuels-Thomas sends a laser over Dell’s glove after Auger chases down his chip-in and forces San Jose to cough up the puck in the third period to extend the Reign’s lead to 3-1: