Adrian Kempe scored twice as Ontario defeated San Jose, 3-1, to take a 2-1 series lead on Thursday night.
The Pacific Division champion Reign can wrap up the series with a win in Game 4 on Friday.
Kempe tallied his first two goals of this postseason; he scored eight times in 17 games last spring in helping Manchester win the Calder Cup. Nic Dowd also scored for the Reign.
Nikolay Goldobin spoiled Peter Budaj’s shutout bid with his second goal of the series at 13:28 of the third period. Budaj was rarely tested in Game 3, finishing the night with 16 saves. Ontario outshot San Jose, 43-17.
Aaron Dell stopped 36 of 39 shots before being given the rest of the night off with 6:50 to go in regulation.
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 – SAN JOSE 3, Ontario 2
Game 3 – Thu., Apr. 28 – ONTARIO 3, San Jose 1
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
.@adriankempe adds 2nd G as @ontarioreign beat @sjbarracuda 3-1, take 2-1 series lead @TheAHL #CalderCup pic.twitter.com/qlem3i9MGS
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) April 29, 2016
