Barracuda Fall in Game 1
Apr 22, 2016San Jose, CA – The San Jose Barracuda (#4 seed in Pacific) presented by Barracuda Networks lost Game 1 of the Best of 5 Pacific Division Semifinals series by the score of 2-1 to the visiting Ontario Reign (#1 seed in Pacific) in front 4,636 fans at SAP Center on Friday evening. The Barracuda will host the Reign (LA Kings AHL affiliate) in Game 2 of the Pacific Division Semifinals on Saturday, Apr 23 at 7:30pm at SAP Center.
Nikita Jevpalovs tied the score early in the third period while Aaron Dell made 35 saves in net in the loss. Kurtis MacDermid scored midway through the second period to put Ontario up 1-0 and Jonny Brodzinski scored the game winner at 15:57 of the third period for the Reign. Peter Budaj made 28 saves in net for the win.
Each team fired 12 shots on goal in a scoreless first period of play as goaltenders Aaron Dell and Peter Budaj were both equal to the task. San Jose had their best chances in the final two minutes of the frame as Matt Tennyson and John McCarthy each had great chances to break the scoreless tie.
The Reign scored on the 40th shot of the game between the two clubs after Nic Dowd won a faceoff deep in the Barracuda zone and rookie defenseman Kurtis MacDermid (1st) fired a rocket just inside the crossbar from 50 feet to give the Reign a 1-0 edge. Shots were 13-11 Ontario in the second period as San Jose headed to the locker room trailing 1-0.
Nikita Jevpalovs (1st) tied the score with a gorgeous goal at 6:17 as he broke in down the right side; toe dragged around a defender and snapped a quick shot past the blocker and off the post to tie the score at 1-1. But the Reign struck back as Jonny Brodzinski (1st) was all alone in front and deked a backhander past Dell at 15:57 for the game winning score. Shots were 12-6 Ontario in the third period.
Notes: Three Stars: 3rd star Aaron Dell (35 saves) 2nd star: Peter Budaj (28 saves, Win) 1st star: Jonny Brodzinski (GWG)….Final shots were 37-29 in favor of Ontario… Peter Budaj (1-0-0) made 28 saves on 29 shots for Ontario….Aaron Dell (0-1-0) made 35 saves on 37 shots for San Jose…. Troy Grosenick served as the backup goalie for the Barracuda ….San Jose went 0-for-4 on the power play while Ontario went 0-for-2…. Raffi Torres (IR), Danny Doremus (inj), Petter Emanuelsson (inj), Patrick McNally, Michael Brodzinski, Gabyrel Boudreau, and Alex Gallant did not dress for the Barracuda… Matt Tennyson suited up for the Barracuda on a conditioning assignment from the SJ Sharks…Ryan Carpenter, Mirco Mueller, Joakim Ryan, Nikita Jevpalovs, Julius Bergman, and Jon Martin all played their 1st professional playoff games while Jeremy Morin played his first Calder Cup playoff game... 15 members of the Ontario Reign won the Calder Cup last year as a member of the Manchester Monarchs.
Coming up….
On Saturday, Apr 23 at 7:30pm the Barracuda host the Ontario Reign (LA King AHL affiliate) at SAP Center in Game 2 of the best-of-five Pacific Division Semifinals. The Reign lead the series 1-0. 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.
