Jonny Brodzinski took advantage of a San Jose defensive lapse and scored the winning goal with 4:03 left in regulation as the Ontario Reign opened their Pacific Division semifinal series with a 2-1 win at SAP Center in San Jose on Friday.
The teams go at it again in Game 2 on Saturday.
Brett Sutter found Brodzinski alone in front and the rookie winger slipped the puck past a sprawling Aaron Dell for what would be the game-winning goal.
After a scoreless first period, Kurtis MacDermid got the Reign on the board first, scoring on a long shot through traffic following a face-off win by Nic Dowd.
The Barracuda tied things up 6:17 into the third period as Nikita Jevpalovs took the puck end to end and wired a shot past Peter Budaj.
Ontario held San Jose to six shots in the third period, and Budaj (1-0) finished with 28 saves on the night to improve to 10-2-0 against the Barracuda this season.
Dell (0-1) stopped 35 of 37 shots in the loss.
Pacific Division Semifinals – Series “G” (best-of-5)
P1-Ontario Reign vs. P4-San Jose Barracuda
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 22 – Ontario 2, SAN JOSE 1
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 23 – Ontario at San Jose, 10:30
Game 3 – Thu., Apr. 28 – San Jose at Ontario, 10:00
*Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 29 – San Jose at Ontario, 10:00
*Game 5 – Sun., May 1 – San Jose at Ontario, 6:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
The @ontarioreign grab a late lead as @Brodzyy finds himself alone in front #ONTvsSJ pic.twitter.com/v7IRyI8O2i
— AHL (@TheAHL) April 23, 2016
