Ontario Reign: Three Takeaways From 5-3 Win Over Colorado

The Ontario Reign survived a late-game rally from the Colorado Eagles and skated away with a 5-3 victory at Blue Arena.

Goal Breakdown

First period:

COL: Neil Shea (1), ASST: Keaton Middleton (2), Mark Senden (3)

ONT: PP Reilly Walsh (3), ASST: Samuel Fagemo (5), Charles Hudon (4)

Second period:

COL: Chris Wagner (1), ASST: Matthew Phillips (8)

ONT: Kaleb Lawrence (1), ASST: Joe Hicketts (9), Jacob Doty (2)

Third period:

ONT: Tyler Madden (4), ASST: Angus Booth (4)

ONT: SH Glenn Gawdin (5), ASST: Jeff Malott (9)

COL: Jacob MacDonald (5), ASST: Jack Ahcan (6), Neil Shea (2)

ONT: EN Samuel Fagemo (5), ASST: None

Stats

Goals:

ONT: 5

COL: 3

Shots: 

ONT: 26

COL: 38

Power plays: 

ONT: 1/3

COL: 0/5

Here are the three takeaways from Friday’s 5-3 victory:

Kaleb Lawrence scores his first professional goal

It’s been a unique start to the season for Kaleb Lawrence. The former seventh-round pick in 2022 didn’t suit up in any of the Reign’s first eight games of the season as he was slowly adjusting to and learning professional hockey. With there not being room for him in the lineup, the LA Kings assigned him to the ECHL to get playing time. In three games for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Lawrence recorded three assists before being reassigned to the Reign after Samuel Helenius got called up to the Kings and Taylor Ward being unavailable to play for the Reign.

Lawrence made his AHL debut on Wednesday against the Tucson Roadrunners as the 4C and was back in that spot last night. With the Reign down a goal in the second period, a Joe Hicketts slap shot was deflected in by Lawrence, in front of the net, past Eagles netminder, Kevin Mandolese, to tie the game at two. Lawrence’s goal was the first of his professional career. Through two games Lawrence has played the 4C position at five-on-five and seen little time on the penalty kill while not looking out of place.

Like many rookies, there will be some growing pains during the year but any time they end up on the plus side of the game, a coach will gladly take it. Lawrence was on the plus side last night and got rewarded for his first professional goal.

The Gawd Father scores again

Glenn Gawdin has been on a roll for the Reign Train lately. Entering last night’s matchup, Gawdin led the team in points with 11 and tied for the team lead in goals with four. Gawdin continued his hot play by adding a short-handed goal on a breakaway to give the Reign a 4-2 lead with 7:39 remaining. The goal would end up being the game-winner after Jacob MacDonald brought the Eagles within one 37 seconds later.

For Gawdin, it was his third goal in the last two games, second straight game with a short-handed goal, and second straight game scoring the game-winning goal for the Reign. He also has 11 points (5G-6A) in the last seven games. The veteran forward has been a solid all-around player for the Reign by playing the 1C position, leading the team in scoring, being tied for the team lead in goals, power play, and penalty kill time, and being a reliable player for head coach Marco Sturm can trust protecting the lead late. Your best players need to lead the way and Gawdin has done just that these last seven games.

Pheonix Copley with his best game of the season; anything for the win

This game was Pheonix Copley’s best game of the season. Aside from the second goal he would like to have back, he made the big saves when needed, especially in the third period when Colorado recorded 16 shots on goal.

When the Reign needed a save Copley was there and seemed to track the puck better last night. He made multiple key saves, but his best one came on the penalty kill in the third period sliding from the left post to the right to rob Chris Wagner back door keeping the Reign in front, 3-2 (Gawdin would score less than a minute later to give Ontario a 4-2 lead). Copley made 35 saves on 38 shots, including stopping 15 of 16 in the third period.

As for the defense, they blocked a lot of shots late trying to hold the lead. Midway through the third period Jack Studnicka made a diving attempt to block an Eagles high danger shot attempt that was successful. Late in the period, Hicketts made a diving play to knock the puck away from TJ Tynan’s stick, denying a good look at an open net for the former captain of the Reign. Ontario was willing to do anything it took to win in the final frame hanging on by a thread, even if it meant sacrificing the body.

NOTES:

*Entering the game, the Eagles had the seventh-ranked power play. The Reign penalty kill was perfect on the night again, this time going 5/5.

*Lawrence earned the Reign Train conductor hat after the game scoring for scoring his first professional goal.

*Angus Booth recorded a primary assist on Tyler Madden’s fourth goal of the season. The rookie defenseman has an assist in each of the last two games.

*Reilly Walsh recorded his third power-play goal of the season to tie the game at one in the first period. It was the second straight game he scored a power-play goal.

*Ontario recorded a power play and short-handed goal for the second straight game.

*Colorado took a 1-0 in the first period off a goal by Neil Shea that hit the back of the net and quickly came out, but the referee waved it off on the play, thinking it hit the post. About three minutes later, Francesco Pinelli looked like he gave the Reign a 1-0 lead. However, since it was the first stoppage since the goal was waved off, the officials checked the replay to see if Shea’s shot hit the crossbar or back of the net and quickly came out. After review, the correct call was made as the officials called Shea’s shot a goal, which negated Pinelli’s goal, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

UP NEXT: The Reign and Eagles will square off again tonight in Colorado for the second game of the weekend series. The game starts at 6:05 PM PT. You can watch the game on FloSports or listen on the ESPN LA app.

Featured image credit: Ashley Potts/Colorado Eagles

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