Game 1: Reign 5, Gulls 3 + postgame notes/video

Ontario Reign 5, San Diego Gulls 3
Final (Reign lead best-of-7 series, 1-0)

Radio Feed
Box Score
Game 1 Links: Morning skate notes | Stothers quotes | Dowd/LaDue quotes

SOG: ONT – 29; SD – 19
PP: ONT – 1/4; SD – 0/3

First Period
1) ONT – Michael Mersch (1) (Jeff Schultz, Kevin Raine), 10:26
2) ONT PPG – Vincent LoVerde (1) (Nic Dowd, Michael Mersch), 14:37

Second Period
3) SD – Kalle Kossila (1) (Chris Mueller, Nick Ritchie), 3:06
4) SD – Matt Bailey (1) (Corey Tropp), 5:32
5) ONT – Joel Lowry (1) (Mike Amadio), 14:37

Third Period
6) ONT – Michael Mersch (2) (Kevin Raine, Justin Auger), 9:11
7) SD – Corey Tropp (1) (Brandon Montour, Shea Theodore), 17:37
8) ONT SHG/ENG – Jeff Schultz (1) (unassisted), 19:27

(1) Ontario Reign vs. (2) San Diego Gulls
Thursday, May 5, 2016, 7 p.m. PT
Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, CA
Referees: #43 Tom Chmielewski, #45 Jon McIsaac
Linesmen: #52 Shandor Alphonso, #85 Steve Walsh
AHL Live, Mixlr Radio

ONT starters: G Peter Budaj, D Kevin Raine, D Jeff Schultz, LW Michael Mersch, C Adrian Kempe, RW Justin Auger
ONT scratches: F Brett Sutter, F Jonny Brodzinski, F Ryan Horvat, F Matt Leitner, G Jack Flinn, D Chaz Reddekopp, D Zach Leslie, F Spencer Watson, D Nick Ebert, D Damir Sharipzyanov, F Matt Schmalz, F Austin Wagner, D Alex Lintuniemi

SD starters: G Matt Hackett, D Jaycob Megna, D Brandon Montour, LW Antoine Laganiere, C Matt Bailey, RW Corey Tropp
SD scratches: G Kevin Boyle, G Dustin Tokarski, G Anton Khudobin, D Martin Gernat, D Shane O’Brien, D Joe Piskula, F Harry Zolnierczyk, F Nic Kerdiles, F Mike Sgarbossa, D Andrew O’Brien, F Kenny Ryan, F Tim Jackman, F Tyler Morley, F Kevin Roy, F Deven Sideroff, D Jacob Larsson, D Marcus Pettersson, F Nick Sorensen

Notes

–The Reign improved to 3-0 on home ice in the playoffs.

–By killing 3-of-3 penalties, the Reign continued their perfect streak and are now 12-for-12 in the postseason on the PK.

–The Reign are now 4-0 in the playoffs when scoring the game’s first goal.

–All of the Reign goal scorers had their first postseason goals (Mersch, LoVerde, Lowry and Schultz).

–Peter Budaj made his fifth straight postseason start, making 16 saves in his fourth win.

–In what is anticipated to be a heavy series, the game featured just one fight: Kris Newbury took on Corey Tropp on the ensuing faceoff after Mersch’s opening goal. In all, 24 PIM were called.

–Regulars Brett Sutter, Jonny Brodzinski and Ryan Horvat were not on the ice for warmups and were out of the lineup. All are out with undisclosed injuries.

–Here’s how the Reign aligned during line rushes in warmups:
Sam Herr – Nick Dowd – Sean Backman
Michael Mersch – Adrian Kempe – Justin Auger
Kris Newbury – Andrew Crescenzi – Jordan Samuels-Thomas
Joel Lowry – Mike Amadio – Paul Bissonnette

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

Peter Budaj
Michael Houser

–Gulls goalie Matt Hackett led the Gulls onto the ice and usual starter Anton Khudobin did not take warmups after missing morning skate earlier today. Khudobin left injured in last Friday’s Game 4 against Texas in a collision with teammate Brandon Montour.

Video