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Ontario Reign Playoff Update/Game 3 Preview |
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We have covered the Ontario Reign here and there throughout the 2015-16 season, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that the Reign ended the year as the top seed of the Pacific division and the Western Conference.
In an odd twist of fate, the Reign drew up against the San Jose Sharks minor league affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.
In the five game AHL first round format (Do not ask coach Mike Stothers how he feels about that), the Reign opted to play the last three games at home with San Jose drawing the first two games at SAP Center.
The first two games were split 2-1 and 3-2, with San Jose taking the latter. Thus the series shifts to Ontario for the team's first ever playoff game at Citizens Business Bank Arena, with the he team donning the crest "Ontario Reign".
With the Kings out and a number of their prospects vying for a second consecutive AHL title, our focus shifts as well. The Reign, who bested the San Jose Barracuda this season with a record of 9-3-0, have yet to drop a home game to the San Jose affiliate. Thus, the Reign can wrap up the series on Thursday night and Friday night, with a Sunday afternoon decider if necessary.
Ontario Reign
For the Reign this series, and this season, has been one of balance. They do not score a lot (fewest goals in the Pacific Division, third fewest in the Western Conference), however they give up the fewest goals in the AHL, and it's not even close.
Back stopped by the best goalie in the league and NHL veteran, Peter Budaj, the stingy Reign have often held their opponents to frustratingly low scores. With NHL worthy prospects like Derek Forbort and Kevin Gravel eating up huge minutes alongside veterans like Vincent LoVerde and Jeff Schultz the Ontario defensive corps has been supplemented by stellar young players like Kurtis MacDermid, Kevin Raine, and Nick Ebert. It is altogether a strong team from the goalie out.
Up front is where things can be touch and go for the Reign. They are a score by committee sort of team that are led by a few noteworthy players. If the offense is finding twine it usually comes from the stick of Nic Dowd, Michael Mersch, Sean Backman, or Jonny Brodzinski (as of late). There are few consistent offensive threats throughout the lineup, but the Reign have made it work all season with hard forechecking, grinding hockey that sees players like Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Justin Auger, Kris Newbury, and Andrew Crescenzi come into more useful roles and contributions night in and night out. While they aren't the most potent team up and down, they can hit you from anywhere at anytime, which adds to the dynamicism.
San Jose Barracuda
San Jose had an up and down season but ended up making a late push that got them into the final playoff spot out West. They are a team made up primarily of veteran AHL players, PTO players, and collegiate players. It is not an extremely young team by AHL standards, but there are a few standouts that help give the Barracuda a threat. Former first round pick Nikolay Goldobin finished the year tied for the team lead in goals with 21, and was amongst the better point getters with 44. Ryan Carpenter and Bryan Lerg, whom were both called up this year with San Jose, are other threats San Jose has. On the back end they are driven by young Mirco Mueller and the diminutive puck mover Joakim Ryan.
With San Jose though, perhaps their biggest chip this season, and especially down the stretch, was goaltender Aaron Dell. While he started the year in a split job with Troy Grosenick, Dell was stellar down the stretch and ended the year with a .922 save percentage in 40 games played.
Keys to Game 3
The series, as stated before, is knotted up at one game apiece. It has been a tightly contested series with both teams matching each other in terms of special teams, with neither team logging a Powerplay goal. Even strength has been equally as tight, with both games being one-goal contests.
For the Reign the challenge will be to find the production from anyone and everyone in the lineup. Across the board talent is certainly in favor of Ontario, but the Barracuda are also a fairly stingy team defensively, and have troubled the Reign at times this season in scoring. If they can get their big players rolling, aka Mersch, Dowd, and Backman, it could spell trouble for a San Jose team that was equally stunted offensive team that is facing Budaj and a defensive stalwart in the Reign.
A big key for both teams, and one that has been already present in this series, is the play of goaltender Aaron Dell. Despised standing just 6-feet even, Dell has played well above his size. He was a puzzle that the Reign had trouble solving at different times through the year. While traffic has been the key for Ontario in trying to disrupt his tracking of the puck, his rebound control and vision have been strong. It is not out of the question to say that San Jose's hopes lie squarely on the shoulders of the former University of North Dakota goaltender.
Simply put, the Reign must solve Dell, shut down Goldobin/Lerg/Carpenter and continue to play excellent defensive and disciplined hockey. Structurally they are as sound as their NHL counterpart, and much credit has to be given to Mike Stothers for that. This matchup, however, is a challenge for a Reign team that can have trouble finding the net on a goalie who has been a quandary to them at times.
Other Notes
Standout prospect Mike Amadio may figure in to the Reign lineup. With his season at North Bay wrapping up, the Kings signed him to an ELC and shipped him to Ontario. While it was not ideal for him to be starting, injuries may push the young center into the spotlight sooner than anticipated. Other young players like Austin Wagner, Matt Schmalz, and Damir Sharipzyanov are currently up and with the team but none figure to be suited up for these playoffs.
Game 3 updates will be provided on Twitter (@SirJDL) as the Reign look to take a stranglehold on their first round series over San Jose and make the first Ontario Reign playoff home game a memorable one.
Los Angeles Kings Blogger • 
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