Tough start for the Reign last night on the road, dropping the first game in the best of five series to Texas 4-3 in overtime. Both teams went with skill in the line up, a game that for the most part was devoid of the usual physical intensity you see in playoff game and the lack of scrums after the whistle. That's not to say the game was lacking contact, as a strong forecheck by Texas on occassion led directly to 3 of the 4 goals allowed. If the intent for the Reign was to stay out of the penalty box, it worked, for the Reign were not whistled for a single infraction, the first time I can ever recall that happening with a usually pretty physical Ontario squad that spends a lot of time on the PK.
The Reign lines:
Moulson-Amadio-Brodzinski
Mersch-Hensick-Maillet
Wagner-Sutter-Auger
Herr-AndersonDolan-Luff
MacDermid-LaDue
Fantenberg-Walker
Lintuniemi-Roy
This is about as skilled a forward line up as the Reign can muster with perhaps the exception of Eyssimont who was scratched, along with Devane, Imama, Bauman and Crescenzi (injured). The Crescenzi injury (undisclosed, has not played in over 3 weeks) has been a tough blow for the Reign, as the reliable defensive center and face off specialist with size was noticeably missing from the 4th line and the Stars took advantage of the match up. Defensive scratches included Johnson, Strand, Subban, Falkovsky and Clague (it's not likely Clague has even had a chance to practice yet with the team).
The Stars opened the scoring as Fantenberg was knocked off the puck on the dump in, the puck went behind the net where Anderson-Dolan was a step behind his man and couldn't prevent the centering pass to an open man a few feet in from of Petersen as Walker was late on the coverage. The Reign tied the game in the second on a nice tip play from the hash marks by Auger off a Roy drive beat the Texas goalie and the score was tied. Wagner was hurt on the play as he was kneed just prior to the goal but would later return. The Reign then proceeded to take the lead on a nice steal by Amadio along the boards near the end line, followed by an instant almost no look pass to the slot to Brodzinski who didn't miss from the prime time area and the period ended with a 2-1 lead.
The Reign are normally pretty dependable with a lead going into the third, but it was not to be as a nice move along the boards by Texas entering the Reign zone lost Walker on the coverage and Fantenberg could not prevent the 2 on 1 cross ice pass leading to a beautiful one-timer and the game was tied, once again victimizing the 4th line and Fantenberg-Walker pairing. The Stars took the lead when they won another puck battle behind the net, this time against Herr. LaDue failed to block the pass in front, and after the initial shot/puck battle in front bounced off MacDermid, the Stars forward scored from about 5 feet in front as the puck dropped to his feet and he didn't miss. With Petersen pulled, the Reign tied the game with 1:16 remaining as a Brodzinski drive went over to Mersch who pushed the puck to the right side for another clutch Moulson goal, and the game would remain tied until OT. Petersen was solid in net, really had no chance on any of the goals and made some excellent saves in regulation. The Reign out shot the Stars by a wide margin, but quite a few shots were from distance with little traffic in front and not really quality scoring chances.
The Stars wasted no time in OT, as Walker was knocked off the puck along the boards, and during the ensuing scramble in front, Walker, Sutter and Fantenberg failed to clear the puck, which shot over to Brian Flynn who buried the shot, which Petersen had no chance to stop.
Walker, who is normally paired with MacDermid, had a tough outing. He has not played for at least two weeks, as he missed the last few games of the regular season, likely due to injury. It was clear at the start of the game the Reign were pretty rusty due to the long layoff between games, and players like Amadio and Brodzinski had not played in weeks. It took about 15 minutes to get their legs. It's a back to back, so we could see some line up changes. Not sure if Petersen will come out or not, but the 4th line of Herr-Anderson-Dolan and Luff along with the pairing of Fantenberg-Walker had poor games which the Stars took advantage of.
I was a bit surprised that Stothers did not pair Fantenberg-Roy, as they were a regular duo late in the season and were very effective together, including one game where they were a combined +11. The
Lintuniemi-Roy pairing did not surrender a goal. The puck drops again today a 5PM pacific time prior to the Reign returning home on Sunday for a 3 PM matchup. Obviously a critical game today as the Reign do not want to go down 2-0 in a best of five series.
