Barracuda Drop Game 3 in Ontario 3-1
Apr 28, 2016Ontario, CA – The San Jose Barracuda (#4 seed in Pacific) presented by Barracuda Networks fell to the host Ontario Reign (#1 seed in Pacific) by the score of 3-1 in front 8,174 fans at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Thursday evening in Game 3 of the Best of 5 Pacific Division Semifinals. With Ontario ahead in the series 2-1, the Barracuda must win Game 4 in Ontario on Friday at 7pm for force Game 5.
Adrian Kempe scored twice and Nic Dowd scored on the power play to lead the Reign to victory. San Jose was outshot 43-15 in the game as Nikolay Goldobin scored the only Barracuda tally in the loss. Aaron Dell made 36 saves before he was replaced by Troy Grosenick while Peter Budaj made just 14 saves in net for the win.
Ontario came out with all cylinders running in the first period as they outshot San Jose 14-4 and took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. Adrian Kempe (1st) deflected a Michael Mersch shot from on top of the crease past goaltender Aaron Dell at 7:12 to put the Reign up 1-0. After a wild goal mouth scramble, Mirco Mueller swept the puck away from the goal line with his glove and Nic Dowd was awarded a penalty shot at 14:36. Aaron Dell made a pad save on the penalty shot after Dowd broke down the left wing and cut across the slot and fired the puck glove side. San Jose went 0-1 on the only power play in the opening period.
Trevor Parkes was whistled for a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct at 1:17 of the second period and Ontario would strike again. Nic Dowd (1st) was set up in front of the net by Jonny Brodzinski at 2:34 to put the Reign up by a pair of goals. Aaron Dell made 15 more saves in the second period as Peter Budaj made just four saves in the period as the Barracuda trailed 2-0 through 40 minutes of play.
Adrian Kempe (2nd) fired a wicked shot on a 2-on-1 rush at 11:27 to give Ontario a 3-0 lead. Aaron Dell made 36 saves before being replaced by Troy Grosenick at the 13 minute mark of the third period. Nikolay Goldobin (2nd) fired a quick low shot from 55 feet through a screen and past Budaj at 13:28 to give San Jose a pulse. But the Reign closed things up defensively and held on for the 3-1 win over the Barracuda.
Notes: Three Stars: 3rd star Nic Dowd (Goal) 2nd star: Peter Budaj (14 saves, Win) 1st star: Adrian Kempe (2-0-2)….Final shots were 43-15 in favor of Ontario… Peter Budaj (2-1-0) made 14 saves on 15 shots for Ontario….Aaron Dell (1-2-0) made 36 saves on 39 shots for San Jose and Troy Grosenick made 4 saves in relief….San Jose went 0-for-2 on the power play while Ontario went 1-for-3…. Raffi Torres (IR), Danny Doremus (inj), Petter Emanuelsson (inj), Michael Brodzinski, Frazer McLaren, and Alex Gallant did not dress for the Barracuda… before the game the SJ Sharks reassigned Rourke Chartier from Kelowna (WHL) to the Barracuda – Chartier did not dress as he was still traveling….forward Kevin Labanc was signed to an ATO by the Barracuda and did not dress…. Nikolay Goldobin (2-0-2) now has a two game point streak.
Coming up….
On Friday, Apr 29 at 7pm the Barracuda battle the Reign in Game 4 in Ontario of the best-of-five Pacific Division Semifinals. Ontario leads the series 2-1. Coverage begins live at 7pm on AM 1220 KDOW.
Playoff tickets and 2016-17 season tickets are on sale now by contacting the Barracuda Office at 408-977-4747 or by crashing the net at www.SJBarracuda.com.
