Barracuda Season Comes To An End In Ontario
Apr 29, 2016Ontario, CA – The San Jose Barracuda (#4 seed in Pacific) presented by Barracuda Networks season came to an end after a 4-1 loss to the host Ontario Reign (#1 seed in Pacific) in front 7,622 fans at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Friday evening in Game 4 of the Best of 5 Pacific Division Semifinals. Ontario won the series 3-1 and will now battle the San Diego Gulls in the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs.
Jeremy Langlois scored the only goal for the Barracuda and Aaron Dell made 31 saves in net for San Jose in the loss. Nic Dowd, Justin Auger, Jordan Samuels-Thomas, and Andrew Crescenzi scored for the Reign while Peter Budaj made 18 saves in net for the series clinching win.
A terrific marathon fight at center ice in the first two minutes between tough guys Alex Gallant (1st FM) and Paul Bissonnette (1st FM) set the tone for a high flying physical first period of play. Nic Dowd (2nd) found a loose rebound at the side of the Barracuda net and fired it past the outreached glove of Aaron Dell at 9:12 to give the Reign a 1-0 lead. The newly formed line of Kevin Labanc, John McCarthy, and Nikolay Goldobin had several great chances but could not find the back of the net on Peter Budaj. Shots were 11-7 Reign through 20 minutes of play.
San Jose tied the score at 1-1 as Jeremy Langlois (1st) deflected a Barclay Goodrow shot that originated from the left wing wall at 9:58. But the Reign would regain the lead just over two minutes later as Justin Auger (1st) from 15 feet through a screen past Aaron Dell at 13:12. Shots were 21-13 Ontario through 40 minutes of play as the Barracuda trailed 2-1 headed into the third period.
The Reign scored twice more in the third period to pull away for the 4-1 series clinching win. Jordan Samuels-Thomas (1st) zapped a wicked shot from the left wing on the rush at 15:33 and Andrew Crescenzi (1st) scored into an empty net at 18:33 to finish the scoring. Shots were 14-6 Ontario in the third period.
Notes: Three Stars: 3rd star Nic Dowd (Goal) 2nd star: Jordan Samuels-Thomas (Goal) 1st star: Justin Auger (1-1-2)….Final shots were 35-19 in favor of Ontario… Peter Budaj (3-1-0) made 18 saves on 19 shots for Ontario….Aaron Dell (1-3-0) made 31 saves on 34 shots for San Jose…Troy Grosenick was the backup goaltender….San Jose went 0-for-2 on the power play while Ontario went 0-for-2…. Raffi Torres (IR), Danny Doremus (inj), Petter Emanuelsson (inj), Patrick McNally, Frazer McLaren, Nikita Jevpalovs, and Jon Martin did not dress for the Barracuda… Rourke Chartier (Kelowna - WHL) and Kevin Labanc (Barrie – OHL) each made their professional debuts for the Barracuda…..Alex Gallant and Michael Brodzinski each made their playoff debuts… San Jose dressed five players under the age of 21 and had eight players in lineup drafted by the Sharks….San Jose did not score a first period goal in the series.
Coming up….
GO SHARKS!!!
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.
