A three-goal first period was good enough for a win as the Ontario Reign split their two-game weekend series against Tucson.

Goal Breakdown

First period:

ONT: Tyler Madden (11), ASST: Lias Andersson (16), Jordan Spence (29)

TUC: Cam Dineen (4), ASST: Michael Carcone (40), Cameron Hebig (5)

ONT: Samuel Fagemo (13), ASST: Tobie Bisson (9), Samuel Helenius (8)

ONT: PP Alex Turcotte (6), ASST: Martin Chromiak (10), Tobias Bjornfot (3)

Second period: 

None

Third period:

TUC: Jean-Sebastian Dea (19), ASST: Laurent Dauphin (21)

ONT: EN TJ Tynan (7), ASST: Tyler Madden (10), Jacob Moverare (10)

ONT: EN Tyler Madden (12), ASST: TJ Tynan (48), Lias Andersson (17)

Stats

Goals:

TUC: 2

ONT: 5

Shots:

TUC: 38

ONT: 29

Power-plays:

TUC: 0/5

ONT: 1/2

Here are the three takeaways from Saturday’s 5-2 victory:

Strong start

It only took the Ontario Reign 6:03 to score their first goal of the game after being shut out Friday night. Tyler Madden started the scoring for Reign with his 11th of the season. It didn’t take long for the Roadrunners to answer as Cam Dineen scored his 4th of the year from a sharp angle, one that Cal Petersen should’ve had, to tie the game at one.

Samuel Fagemo gave the Reign the lead right back after sneaking behind the Tucson defense, beating Tyler Parks short side. After Travis Barron was assessed a goalie interference penalty, Alex Turcotte scored a power-play goal after a failed clearing attempt by the Roadrunners to give the Reign a 3-1 lead right as the power play was expiring.

It was important for the Reign to have a strong start after getting shut out in the first game of this two-game series and they did just that. They scored three goals on 13 shots in the first period and were able to hang on late for a 5-2 win.

TJ Tynan records his 500th career AHL point

It was a special night for the captain. Not only did his empty-net goal seal a win for the Reign, but it was also his 500th career AHL point. While it has been hard for Tynan to crack an NHL roster, he has found a home in the AHL. Tynan, the back-to-back MVP winner, is not just a great player because of his stats, it’s his leadership and work ethic that makes him a great player and why the Reign named him team captain before the start of the season.

Tynan would add an assist on Madden’s empty-net goal 22 seconds later, pushing his career point total to 501.

Cal Petersen gets the start

Cal Petersen made 38 saves Friday night in a losing effort and was named the starting goalie last night. It was the second straight weekend where Petersen made both starts on the back-to-back. Just like Friday night, Petersen had a strong game. After giving up a goal on a sharp angle midway through the first, one he should have had, Petersen was locked in and made some key saves in the final two periods, including a breakaway save on the AHL’s leading scorer Michael Carcone late in the second period.

The Reign needed him the most in the third period as Tucson had 20 shots on goal and even had a 5-on-3 for 1:17. The Reign needed a few saves they got those saves as they killed off the 5-on-3. This weekend was the first time in a while I thought Petersen looked confident and dialed in. His 36-save night earned him the first star of the game.

UP NEXT: The Ontario Reign will have a small break as the AHL all-star break is here. TJ Tynan will represent the Reign at the event. Ontario returns to action on February 10th in Bakersfield against the Condors.

Featured image credit: Mike Zitek/Ontario Reign

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