Kyle Garcia 
The Ontario Reign came away with their first victory of the season as they spoiled the San Diego Gulls’ home opener on Friday night.
a BIG Reign W gives the Gulls the ~powder~ blues on their opening night#ReignTrain | #ONTvsSD pic.twitter.com/5cK28pznJi
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) October 21, 2023
Goal Breakdown
First period:
None
Second period:
ONT: PP Taylor Ward (1), ASST: Mikhail Maltsev (1)
SD: PP Olen Zellweger (1), ASST: Glenn Gawdin (2), Andrew Agozzino (2)
ONT: Martin Chromiak (1), ASST: Charles Hudon (2), Steven Santini (1)
Third period:
ONT: PP TJ Tynan (1), ASST: Brandt Clarke (1), Akil Thomas (1)
SD: SH Pavol Regenda (4), ASST: Trevor Carrick (4)
Stats
Goals:
ONT: 3
SD: 2
Shots:
ONT: 32
SD: 33
Power plays:
ONT: 2/5
SD: 1/4
Here are the three takeaways from Friday’s 3-2 victory:
You again?
It’s only been three games into the 2023-2024 season, but the Reign are probably tired of seeing Pavol Regenda. Regenda has recorded four goals in three games against the Reign so far in the young and could be a problem for them as the season progresses. Every year, there is always one player who has a certain team’s number. Last year, it was Rocco Grimaldi who had his way with the Reign when they faced off against the Gulls, and early on this year, it looks like Regenda could be that player against the Reign this year.
https://twitter.com/SDGullsAHL/status/1715586599000654245
Special teams play a big role
The Ontario Reign special teams came up big last night. Ontario got power plays from Taylor Ward and TJ Tynan to go two-for-five on the man advantage. The Reign are still going through an adjustment on the power play with new personnel, as there is a slight shakeup on the man advantage. In the previous two years, the Reign had Martin Frk and Samuel Fagemo shooting slap shots from the left circle with Tynan at the right flank. Frk and Fagemo are both gone, and to fill the void they left, the Reign signed free agent Charles Hudon, but he is a lefty shooter. The Reign have used Tynan on both the left and right flank as they adjust to new personnel and will eventually get better. However, for last night, both power play units looked sharp, with great passing and shot quality. Tynan’s power-play goal in the third period was the game-winning goal.
TJ Tynan finds the back of the net on the Power Play to put the Reign up 3-1 #ReignTrain pic.twitter.com/vIrqpEUNBd
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) October 21, 2023
As for the penalty kill, they went three-for-four on the night with two big kills in the third period. The Reign did a good job blocking shots, not allowing many second-chance opportunities, and getting clears when needed. Special teams were critical in the Reign securing two points.
Sixty minutes
Although it’s been only three games, the Reign hadn’t played their best sixty minutes before last night. In last week’s home opener, head coach Marco Sturm noted his team was late in almost every facet of the game and would have to be better. Two days later, the Reign played better but still looked like a team that needed to play like a unit for 60 minutes. Sturm got just that yesterday as the Reign played the best 60-minute effort of their three games. More efforts and contributions throughout the lineup like that, and there will be more victories in store for the Reign.
Featured image credit: San Diego Gulls