Barracuda’s inaugural season ends with 4-1 loss to Reign

The San Jose Barracuda saw their inaugural season come to end Friday night with a 4-1 loss to the Ontario Reign (AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings) at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Game Four of the Pacific Division Semifinals.

Barracuda forward Jeremy Langlois scored the team’s lone goal at 9:58 of the second period while goaltender Aaron Dell made 31-saves on 34 shots faced.

With the Barracuda offense managing a combined 30-shots on goal in the last two games, Barracuda head coach Roy Sommer shook up his line-up by dressing forwards Kevin Labanc, Rourke Chartier, Alex Gallant and defenseman Michael Brodzinski, all of whom made their Calder Cup Playoff debut.

Following a heavyweight fight at center ice between Gallant and Reign forward Paul Bissonnette at 1:49 of the first period, the Reign took a 1-0 lead at 9:12 when forward Nic Dowd lifted a rebound up-and-over Dell from the right side of the crease for his second goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs after Dell had made the initial save on defenseman Kevin Gravel’s shot from the right point and a point blank rebound shot by forward Sean Backman.

Langlois pulled the Barracuda even at 9:58 of the second period when he skated through the slot and deflected in linemate Barclay Goodrow’s quick shot from the left half wall for his first goal of the Playoffs. Barracuda forward Ryan Carpenter had the secondary assist.

The Reign regained their one goal lead at 13:12 when off a mad scramble in front, forward Justin Auger skated into the left circle, turned and fired a quick shot past Dell, who was screened by Barracuda defenseman Mirco Mueller, for his first goal of the Playoffs.

With the score still 2-1 late in the third period, the Reign got an insurance goal at 15:33 when forward Jordan Samuels-Thomas skated down a loose puck in the left circle by trailing on the play and fired a quick snap up-and-over Dell for his first goal of the Playoffs.

Reign forward Andrew Crescenzi punctuated the Reign win with an empty net goal at 18:33.

NOTES… Shots on goal were 35-19 in favor of the Reign… The Barracuda went 0-for-2 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill… The Barracuda did not score a first period goal in the series nor a power play goal… Dell finished the series tied for second in team scoring with two assists, and was 1-3 with a 2.59 goals-against-average and .932 save percentage… Barracuda defenseman Joakim Ryan led the team in scoring for the series with three points on three assists… The Barracuda dressed five players under the age of 21 for Game Four… In the Barracuda’s lone win of the series, the offense scored three goals while in the three losses, the offense scored a combined three goals… 2016-17 season tickets are on sale now and can be obtained by calling the Barracuda office at 408-977-4747 or by skating over to SJBarracuda.com.

THREE STARS
1. Justin Auger – Reign (1-1-2)
2. Jordan Samuels-Thomas – Reign (1-0-1)
3. Nic Dowd – Reign (1-0-1

LINES
*In order of Appearance*
Lerg (C) / Timmins / Parkes
Goodrow / Carpenter / Langlois
Goldobin / McCarthy (A) / Labanc
Gallant / Chartier / Morin

DEFENSE
Young / Ryan
Stollery (A) / Bergman
Mueller / Brodzinski

GOALIES
Dell
Grosenick

SCRATCHES
Jevpalovs
Martin
McLaren
McNally
Doremus (INJ)
Emanulesson (INJ)
Torres (IR)