Ontario Reign: Three Takeaways From Game Three’s 3-2 Loss

The Ontario Reign jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period but the Firebirds ended the Reign season with a sweep on a comeback victory.

Goal Breakdown

First period:

ONT: Alex Turcotte (2), ASST: Kim Nousiainen (2), Jacob Doty (1)

ONT: Tyler Madden (5), ASST: Brandt Clarke (6), TJ Tynan (5)

Second period:

CV: Kole Lind (2), ASST: Max McCormick (2), Ville Ottavainen (1)

CV: Jimmy Schuldt (2), ASST: Luke Henman (3), Jacob Melanson (3)

Third period:

CV: Kole Lind (3), ASST: Andrew Poturalski (5)

Stats

Goals:

CV: 3

ONT: 2

Shots:

CV: 23

ONT: 24

Power plays:

CV: 0/3

ONT: 0/2

Here are the three takeaways from game three’s defeat, which was a season-ending loss for the Reign:

First-period energy

Coming back home with their backs against the wall the Reign needed to come out with a good start. Marco Sturm switched the lines in the top six by moving Tyler Madden up to the wing on the first line and Alex Turcotte down to the second line as the center. In addition to a minor tweak with the top six forwards, Sturm inserted Francesco Pinelli and Martin Chromiak on the fourth line with Jacob Doty as Hayden Hodgson was out due to a suspension and Nikita Pavlychev as a healthy scratch.

The tweaks paid dividends early as Turcotte got one by Chris Driedger after Kim Nousiainen’s dump-in on the rim around hopped over Ville Ottavainen’s stick along the boards and Turcotte picked up the puck and went far side on Driedger from the right circle.

The Reign added another goal nearly seven minutes later as Brandt Clarke showed his offensive craftiness by walking the blue line to evade the Firebirds defender. Given enough room Clarke’s shot squeaked through Driedger and Madden tapped in the puck before it crossed the line. After the referees and linesmen had a lengthy discussion about potential goalie interference, the call on the ice stood, which meant a 2-0 Reign lead.

The Reign got contributions from their top six, which they desperately needed, and the start they needed.

Firebirds strike back in the second

The Reign got off to a good start but Coachella Valley being the veteran team they are didn’t go down quietly. The Firebirds struck back with two goals in the second period from Kole Lind and Jimmy Schuldt less than six minutes apart. Lind got his first point of the series, while Schuldt registered his second goal in three games.

If there is one moment the Reign may look back on it would probably be the 1:37 of power play time to start the second period. The Reign had a chance to make it 3-0 and when playing the Firebirds you can’t let opportunities like that slip away. The second period had been a strength for the Reign all postseason but at times in last night’s middle frame, the pace of the Firebirds seemed to be too much for them. The Reign got contributions throughout their lineup all season, but the Firebirds’ depth was better in this series.

Season over, players made strides

Lind got his second goal of the game 46 seconds into the final frame and that proved to be the game-winner as the Reign couldn’t get the tying goal the rest of the way, even with a power play with 2:11 left in the game.

While the season came to a close against Coachella Valley, there were a lot of positives to take away from this season. Players like Clarke, Turcotte, Akil Thomas, and Erik Portillo, to name a few, were players who took strides in their development. No doubt those players will make an impact with the LA Kings in the future, and the experience in these playoffs will be valuable for them going forward.

Andre Lee and Samuel Helenius continue to improve their game and have caught more attention from fans, too. Pinelli started to come into his own in the second half of the season after going through an adjustment phase in the first half. The AHL is primarily a development league and seeing all these players take strides is great to see. Some will be back in Ontario and some will get a shot with the Kings next season.

NOTES:

*Coachella Valley earned their first playoff sweep in their short existence. They will face the winner of the Milwaukee Admirals/Grand Rapids Griffins series for a Western Conference Finals matchup.

*The Reign went 5-3 in the playoffs and each series they played in saw the winner finish it with a sweep.

*Erik Portillo finished the playoffs with a 2.16 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.

*Tyler Madden’s five goals in the playoffs led all Reign skaters.

*Madden, TJ Tynan, and Taylor Ward led all Reign skaters with seven points in the playoffs.

UP NEXT: The offseason is upon us. The Reign aren’t in action again until the fall.

Featured image credit: Mike Zitek/Ontario Reign