For 35-40 minutes the Reign played a fairly solid hockey game against a talented Lake Erie Monsters team.
For the other 20? Well, it left much to be desired.
What was categorized as a "Lull" by coach Mike Stothers after the game, turned out to be the difference maker in Game 1 of the AHL Western Conference Finals.
While a feeling out period was expected from the two teams, having not faced each other all throughout the regular season, they both came out of the blocks firing. The two teams combined for 27 shots through the first period, with just three penalties combined in the first frame. While there was no break neck pace to the game, there was a definite back and forth flow that showed both teams were prepared for the challenge that lay ahead.
In the second period though, things flipped on their head a bit.
Ontario got an early second period goal from Sean Backman to put the team up 1-0 while Steve Eminger was off serving an interference minor. It was Backman's first goal of the post-season, and the first Reign powerplay goal since Kris Newbury's Game 2 powerplay goal against San Diego.
.@SBacks tallies his first goal of the postseason to put the @ontarioreign up 1-0. #ONTvsLE #CalderCuphttps://t.co/i8Lqs6IvQj
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 22, 2016
However the dreaded speed of the Lake Erie Monsters came to the forefront as an avalanche of goals turned momentum heavily in favor of the visitors. Starting with Lukas Sedlak's 5th of the playoffs at 7:10 of the 2nd, the Monsters preceded to score two more in the span of two minutes and thirty-six seconds. Josh Anderson potted his sixth of the postseason while captain Vincent LoVerde was off for roughing, while veteran Ryan Craig notched his third just over a minute later.
The first Monsters goal was truly a sign of things to come in the second, as Oliver Bjorkstrand and Markus Hannikainen worked a wonderful little one-two layoff play to the trailing Sedlak who fired it home.
.@monstershockey answers right back to tie the game up. #ONTvsLE #CalderCuphttps://t.co/4zY83eYwbB
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 22, 2016
The Reign fought back hard in the third however with an early goal, just 1:36 into the third, from Nic Dowd.
HUGE goal by @JimmyDowder26 to cut the Monsters' lead to 1. #ONTvsLE #CalderCuphttps://t.co/BuqW1gfVIt
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 22, 2016
and if the affair wasn't topsy turvy enough, they evened it back up at three off the stick of Joel Lowry just under seven minutes later. His slick little turn and fire move was the end of a strong sequence from Ontario's Adrian Kempe and Sean Backman, who pressured the Monsters D into a costly turnover on the halfwall.
What a move by Joel Lowry 👀 #ONTvsLEhttps://t.co/GEcrpsNkmQ
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 22, 2016
Some juggled line combos from Mike Stothers, which saw Amadio elevated to first line wing, and Adrian Kempe to second line center, reignited a perhaps "Stale" Ontario lineup as alternate captain Sean Backman put it postgame.
However, a back breaking fourth goal came 20 seconds after the Reign tied it, as a tough bounce on Ontario rearguard Kevin Gravel gave Alex Broadhurst a wide open tap in on the back door.
With the Monsters leading, the Reign started to pour on chances late in the third, however Forsberg held strong. It wasn't however without a little help from the goalie's best friend.
Kempe missed the game tying goal by thaaaat much https://t.co/SFvvteo5Lo
— All The Kings Men (@KingsMenPodcast) May 22, 2016
As Coach Stothers put it post game when asked what you say to a player after a play like that,
"Good job, kid. What else are you gonna say? It was a great play from Amadio and it was to the guy you wanted. It was Kempe. Everything was perfect except it hit the post."
In a game that had so many back and forth moments, so many close moments, it was poetic that it finished in such a fashion. An inch to the right and we may still be at the arena at this very moment waiting on the outcome. Daily reminder that hockey, for all the glory within, is still a game of inches some nights.
A strong overall performance from both teams puts a firm stamp of anticipation on the remaining games of the series. It was a fun, entertaining, and back and forth affair that sets the stage beautifully for a series where the winner has a chance at the Finals.
Turning Points
The second period was the simple and universal turning point of this game.
The two teams were locked in fierce close combat through the first 20, but an onslaught of rush chances, crisp breakouts, and downright exhausting shifts from the Lake Erie forwards firmly grasped the momentum. What makes it more impressive from a Lake Erie perspective is that they gave up the first goal of the game, which is usually not a recipe for success.
Another turning point has to be the eventual game winner by Alex Broadhurst. While a bit of a broken play, it was still a play the Reign would likely want to have back. How Broadhurst got so open on the back door is troublesome, but a strange carum and perhaps miscommunication (Which Gravel mentioned himself) between Gravel and Budaj made this goal as sour as the timing and situation. The Reign had just pulled themselves back out of the grave, only to slip and fall back in.
Key Players
The Lake Erie Bottom Six
It was quite a strong night for the bottom six combos of Ryan Craig, Trent Vogelhuber, Sonny Milano, and Lukas Sedlak, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Markus Hannikainen (Say some of those names three times fast). Between the two lines they combined for 15 of Lake Erie's 34 shots. The Centermen Craig and Sedlak also scored goals for their respective lines.
While Mike Stothers did a good job in using his top lines and top pairs to shut down the dangerous Tynan/Rychel/Werenski/Anderson combo for the most part, his usually reliable bottom pairs and bottom lines had a rough night. Some excellent forechecking and perhaps sloppy puck management from the group led to extended zone time on many on occasion through the evening. All credit to Lake Erie's role players, because they were major factors in the night's win.
Joel Lowry
Joel Lowry was elevated in the third period to play alongside Kempe and Sean Backman for a lethal combination of speed and physicality. It was only fitting that his line popped the game tying goal with some excellent forechecking. Lowry's goal was nothing short of a beauty as he turned and fired all in one motion to beat Anton Forsberg. Coach Stothers mentioned the "Underrated" shot of Lowry in post game along with noting his strong overall playoffs thus far.
"Scored a couple nice goals against San Diego for us, too. Kid does a good job. Plays hard, plays big, plays physical. Has got a pretty lethal shot. Very underrated. He’s still finding his way but he’s come up with some real big goals for us. He might be a big-game player as well."
Anton Forsberg
Forsberg was called upon to make 30 saves in the evening, 16 of which game in the first period. He also made several key saves in the third, including a beauty glove save robbery on Ontario's Ryan Horvat. There was a bit of goaltending controversy coming out of the Grand Rapids series, and Forsberg was handed the ball so to speak in starting the Ontario series. All in all he did an admirable job in holding down the fort for a Game 1 victory.
Moving Forward
No rest for the wicked, as Game 2 is slated for tomorrow night at CBBA at 7PM. The Reign must really bear down and take Game 2, as they face a three game stretch in Cleveland after tomorrow in the 2-3-2 AHL format. A loss tomorrow night could really put their backs against the wall.
All in all it was a spirited, exciting, and altogether entertaining Game 1. With little signs of that slowing down we head into Game 2 in less than 24 hours.
Stay tuned for previews, postgame and updates from the Ontario Reign playoff run.
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