Ontario Reign: Three Takeaways From 3-2 SO Win Over San Jose

The Ontario Reign have recorded at least a point in 13 straight home games as they defeated the San Jose Barracuda 3-2 in a shootout.

Goal Breakdown

First period: 

SJ: Danil Gushchin (17), ASST: Ethan Cardwell (19)

Second period: 

SJ: Tristen Robins (5), ASST: Kyle Rau (20), Jeremie Bucheler (2)

ONT: Francesco Pinelli (10), ASST: Taylor Ward (20), Kim Nousiainen (8)

Third period: 

ONT: Andre Lee (7), ASST: Hayden Hodgson (10), Steven Santini (13)

Overtime:

None

Shootout winner: 

ONT: Taylor Ward

Stats

Goals: 

SJ: 2

ONT: 3

Shots: 

SJ: 29

ONT: 44

Power plays: 

SJ: 0/2

ONT: 0/3

Here are the three takeaways from Saturday’s shootout victory:

Home success

The Reign couldn’t buy a win on home ice to start the season. If it wasn’t for their success on the road, who knows if they are in a playoff spot at the moment. In their first 22 games on home ice, the Reign’s record was 8-11-3, which was bottom ten in the league. In the last 13 games at home, the Reign have recorded at least a point in all of them by going 10-0-3 in that span dating back to February 9th. That stretch is good enough to place the Reign 11th in the league in winning percentage (.600) on home ice. The play on home ice lately for the Reign is crucial as the playoffs are right around the corner. Winning on home ice will be a huge confidence boost since the first round is a best-of-three series with all three games played on the higher seed’s home ice.

Andre Lee strikes again

Andre Lee has returned and racked up points on the scoresheet. The 6’4 forward returned to the lineup on March 30th after missing the previous 24 games with a lower right leg injury. In three games since his return, Lee has played on the third line with Jacob Doty and Samuel Helenius and scored a goal in each game. Lee’s goal in the third period was his seventh of the season and knotted the game at two with 3:38 remaining as the Reign finally got the tying goal past Barracuda netminder, Georgi Romanov.

Getting Lee back from injury right before the playoffs has been a big addition to the lineup by providing secondary scoring, especially as Charles Hudon has missed the last games. The Reign have relied on their depth all season long and Lee has been a big part of that contribution the last three games. Let’s hope this carries over into the postseason.

Great goalie play from both sides

The goalies played well for both sides. After allowing two goals 22 minutes into the game, Erik Portillo settled in and made big saves as the game went on, particularly late in the third and overtime session. Georgi Romanov made big saves from the moment the puck dropped. It looked like he was on his way to stealing two points for San Jose until Lee tied the game late in the third. He is the reason San Jose got a point, and was solid in net. Luckily, the Reign were able to get one by him and secure the two points with a shootout win given how tight the division standings are.

NOTES:

*The Reign extended their win streak to seven games with their shootout win.

*Rookie forward Francesco Pinelli recorded his 10th goal of the season to put the Reign on the board in the second period.

*Taylor Ward recorded the only goal and Erik Portillo stopped all three shots he faced in the shootout.

UP NEXT: The Ontario Reign travel to Coachella Valley on Wednesday, April 10th, to take on the Firebirds. The game starts at 7 PM PT and can be seen on AHLTV.

Featured image credit: Mike Zitek/Ontario Reign 

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