Ontario Reign: Three Takeaways From 4-1 Win Over San Diego

It wasn’t a pretty game at times but the Ontario Reign secured two points with a 4-1 win over the San Diego Gulls.

Goal Breakdown

First period: 

ONT: Samuel Fagemo (7), ASST: Jack Studnicka (5), Joe Hicketts (11)

ONT: Jack Studnicka (4), ASST: Andre Lee (1), Glenn Gawdin (11)

Second period:

SD: Roman Kinal (1), ASST: Nico Myatovic (1)

Third period:

ONT: Jeff Malott (2), ASST: Reilly Walsh (5), Glenn Gawdin (12)

ONT: EN Charles Hudon (6), ASST: Glenn Gawdin (13), Jeff Malott (13)

Stats

Goals:

ONT: 4

SD: 1

Shots: 

ONT: 29

SD: 34

Power plays:

ONT: 0/5

SD: 0/4

Here are the three takeaways from Saturday’s 4-1 victory:

Taking care of business

Wednesday’s victory over Henderson saw the Ontario Reign play one of their better 60-minute efforts. Last night was a different tune. It wasn’t a bad performance, but it wasn’t their best either. Ontario played well in spurts but often found themselves hemmed in their zone on failed tape-to-tape passes or an aggressive forecheck from the Gulls.

In the end, the Reign managed to find a way, take care of business, and hold off a late surge by a fatigued Gulls team, who were playing their third game in four nights. Getting a 2-0 lead on goals by Samuel Fagemo and Jack Studnicka in the opening frame helped as the Reign had an up-and-down opening 20 minutes.

The Reign went 2-0-0 this week against two bottom teams in the division. Those are games you have to win, and they did. It’s always important to win the games you should and not leave points on the table.

Erik Portillo shines in return

Erik Portillo was returned on loan by the LA Kings back to Ontario yesterday as Pheonix Copley got recalled. Since it was a night game and with the distance from Ontario not too far from San Diego, Portillo traveled with the Reign. Head coach Marco Sturm tabbed him as the starting goalie. Saturday marked Portillo’s first game in 10 days when the Reign defeated the Tucson Roadrunners at Toyota Arena.

Portillo had moments of good, especially early on as he made timely saves bailing the Reign out after mistakes that led to scoring chances for San Diego. On the other hand, there were moments of rust and things to work on. I noticed two or three instances where Portillo opted to move the puck instead of freezing it. I wouldn’t worry too much because that could often reflect a goalie trying to do too much in a game. However, the rebound control will still be a work in progress as there were several big rebounds given up but Portillo tracked the puck well and recovered nicely.

Having Portillo continue to play games and improve daily in the AHL will be beneficial for his development rather than being a backup and not playing in the NHL. Making 33 saves on 34 shots faced in last night’s game and allowing one goal in each of his last two AHL starts is a good step in the right direction.

Oh my Gawd(in)

The Reign have gotten production from their top players since the calendar flipped to November. No one, and I mean no one, has been on fire more than Glenn Gawdin. Ontario’s 1C added to his four-game point streak with another three-point game (all assists) and a +2 rating to push his point streak to five games. In ten games in November, Gawdin has recorded 19 points (7G-12A) after recording only one assist in October.

He’s done everything for the Reign; scoring, distributing, playing on the power play and penalty, taking important faceoffs, and winning board battles. He did all those things last night, minus the scoring, in a building he used to call home in San Diego. Possible AHL Player of the Month winner? He should be.

NOTES:

*With his three-assist night, Gawdin now has 25 points in 23 career regular-season games against the Gulls.

*Fagemo has recorded a goal in three of the last four games.

*Studnicka ended his six-game scoreless drought with a goal and an assist. It was his third multi-point game of the season.

*Jeff Malott recorded his first goal in seven games and extended his point streak to five games (1G-6A).

*Charles Hudon extended his point streak to five games (2G-3A) with his empty-net goal.

*Andre Lee played a role in both first-period goals. On Fagemo’s goal he won a key offensive one faceoff after Studnicka was kicked out of the circle. He didn’t record a point but did so with a primary assist on Studnicka’s goal by hustling to win a loose puck in the offensive zone to set up Studnicka. He recorded an assist, a +1 rating, and two shots on goal in the game.

*Kaleb Lawrence didn’t suit up, so Aatu Jamsen took his place in the lineup. It was the second time Jamsen played as the 4C this season.

UP NEXT: The Ontario Reign will have practice during the week and return to action on Friday as the Texas Stars come to town. The game starts at 7 PM PST. You can watch that game on FloSports and KCAL+ (channel 9.6) as well as listening on the ESPN LA app.

Featured image credit: San Diego Gulls

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