Ontario Reign: Three takeaways from 6-4 loss to Bakersfield

The Ontario Reign didn’t play a clean 60 minutes and found themselves on the losing end of a 6-4 game against the Bakersfield Condors.

Goal Breakdown

First period:

BAK: Cameron Wright (4), ASST: Drake Caggiula (8), Noah Hoefenmayer (5)

ONT: PP Samuel Fagemo (11), ASST: Brandt Clarke (18)

BAK: PP Xavier Bourgault (3), ASST: Ty Tulio (2), Greg McKegg (4)

BAK: Raphael Lavoie (7), ASST: Philip Kemp (4), Seth Griffith (8)

Second period: 

ONT: PP Charles Hudon (9), ASST: Samuel Fagemo (6), Akil Thomas (7)

ONT: SH Akil Thomas (6), ASST: Kevin Connauton (3)

Third period: 

BAK: Noah Hoefenmayer (3), ASST: Philip Kemp (5), Seth Griffith (9)

BAK: Cameron Wright (5), ASST: Drake Caggiula (9)

ONT: TJ Tynan (4), ASST: Martin Chromiak (5), Brandt Clarke (19)

BAK: EN Drake Caggiula (2), ASST: Lane Pederson (5)

Stats

Goals:

BAK: 6

ONT: 4

Shots: 

BAK: 27

ONT: 24

Power plays:

BAK: 1/7

ONT: 2/6

Here are the three takeaways from Friday’s 6-4 defeat against Bakersfield:

Special teams strike three times

The special teams units were not why the Ontario Reign fell to the Bakersfield Condors last night. They were the reason they were in the game. The Reign got two power-play goals from Samuel Fagemo and Charles Hudon, and a short-handed goal from Akil Thomas through the first 40 minutes. All three goals went glove side on Condors netminder Jack Campbell, who had no chance on Fagemo’s blast in the first period.

However, five-on-five was a different story. The Reign had a few chances throughout the game at even strength but couldn’t capitalize on them as the Condors did. The fourth Reign goal came at six-on-five with 1:20 to play as TJ Tynan brought the Reign within one.

Alex Turcotte doesn’t finish the game

Alex Turcotte, who is having a great season for the Reign up to this point, could not finish the game yesterday. Turcotte left the game with 13:26 remaining in the second period and wouldn’t return after taking an elbow to the head from Condors defenseman Max Wanner in the offensive zone. A hit to the head is concerning, but given Turcotte’s history, it’s worrisome. When asked to give an update on Turcotte by Reign insider Jared Shafran after the game, Sturm didn’t provide a direct answer but was quick to say the performance of the officiating was “bad” and thought they missed two hits against the head. Given Turcotte’s history, let’s hope he doesn’t miss much time.

Clean it up

While it was an ugly game for the officiating, it wasn’t why the Ontario Reign lost. Throughout the game, the Condors were quicker and stronger in the 50/50 battles for loose pucks. The Reign also weren’t sharp with their passing on zone exits and through the neutral zone and had several defensive lapses that led to the puck in the back of their net. Down two goals in the third period, they only mustered four shots on goal, which won’t help any team’s chances of coming back. They never got into a rhythm, even with the special teams goals. If they can clean up the lapses and miscues, they’ll have a better chance of winning tonight against a stingy Condors team.

Notes:

*Mikhail Maltsev was reassigned by the organization to Spartak Moscow (KHL) on Thursday, according to the AHL transaction log. This roster move will allow players such as Francesco Pinelli more game action.

*Samuel Fagemo’s power-play goal was his 7th of the year. That leads the AHL.

*Charles Hudon and Samuel Fagemo recorded power-play goals for the second consecutive game.

*Akil Thomas’ two points give him five in his last three games.

*Brandt Clarke’s two assists now give him 24 points on the season. That leads all defensemen in the AHL.

UP NEXT: These two teams are back at it tonight for the second game of the home-and-home series. The game will be in Bakersfield and starts at 7 PM. Tonight’s game is also free on AHLTV, so make sure to tune in even if you don’t have an AHLTV account!

Video credit: Ontario Reign YouTube channel/Jared Shafran

Featured image credit: Ontario Reign

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