Ontario Reign: Three Takeaways From 4-1 Win Over Coachella Valley

The Ontario Reign won their third straight against a top-three team in the Pacific with a 4-1 victory over the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

Goal Breakdown

First period: 

CV: Jani Nyman (9), ASST: Ben Meyers (10), Niklouas Brouillard (7)

ONT: Francesco Pinelli (4), ASST: Shawn Element (4), Jacob Doty (4)

Second period:

None

Third period:

ONT: PP Samuel Fagemo (13), ASST: Charles Hudon (9), Reilly Walsh (9)

ONT: EN Charles Hudon (11), ASST: Jeff Malott (18)

ONT: EN Samuel Fagemo (14), ASST: Jack Studnicka (9)

Stats

Goals: 

ONT: 4

CV: 1

Shots: 

ONT: 30

CV: 33

Power plays: 

ONT: 1/3

CV: 0/4

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

Putting out the fire

The Reign finally beat the Firebirds for the first time since last season (February 23rd). The win snapped an eight-game losing streak, which included the Firebirds sweeping the Reign in last year’s playoffs. With Coachella Valley having Ontario’s number recently, a win like this can be a big one for the Reign. They not only lifted a huge weight off their shoulders, but recorded their third straight win against a top-three team in the division (San Jose, Calgary, and Coachella Valley).

Sunday’s game against San Jose marked the beginning of four straight games against the top-three teams in the division, and the Reign have passed that test by winning the first three. A win tonight at home against the Firebirds will give them a perfect score.

Special teams come through

The Reign got good penalty killing and a timely power-play goal in this game. Let’s start with the penalty kill. After allowing three power-play goals in the last two games, the Reign killed off all four Firebirds’ power plays, including three in the second period. The Reign not only went three-for-three on the penalty kill in the middle frame but also had two breakaway chances by Jeff Malott and Francesco Pinelli on the same penalty kill that were stopped by Nikke Kokko and hit the crossbar respectively.

Ontario entered the game with the AHL’s best penalty kill on the road and it showed. They got their sticks in passing lanes, cleared the puck when needed, and got saves from Pheonix Copley when shots got through.

The power play struggled again but got a timely goal in the third period. Samuel Fagemo’s 13th goal of the season gave the Reign a 2-1 victory. It was his fourth power-play goal of the year and wound up being the game-winner. Charles Hudon, known for his shot, faked out all the Firebirds penalty killers and goaltender with a fake shot pass to Fagemo, who didn’t miss the open net.

Copley with a big game

Copley has turned a corner after a slow start to the season after returning from last year’s ACL injury that prematurely ended his season. Since his 35-save effort in the Reign’s 5-3 win over the Eagles on November 15th, Copley has won six of his seven starts and took home a Player of the Week honors (Week 11/25-12/1).

Last night was arguably Copley’s best game of the season. He looked like he was tracking the puck well, didn’t allow many rebound chances, and was swallowing up shots. A shot to the crest of the jersey seemed to stick to him like glue. When the Firebirds came on with a push in the final ten minutes, he was up to the task by stopping two grade-A chances. He was poised between the pipes all night and made 32 saves to earn the game’s second star.

The Reign goaltending has been excellent as of late in addition to getting solid play from all four lines and six defensemen. The Portillo-Copley duo has given the Reign a formidable one between the pipes as of late and can even steal games if the Reign don’t have their A-game.

NOTES:

*All four lines recorded a point (Pinelli’s goal was assisted by Element and Doty as a result of a mixed line on a change).

*Hudon continues to find the back of the net. His empty-net goal gave him at least a goal in four straight. He has five goals in that stretch.

*Copley earned his eighth victory of the season.

*Element extended his point streak to three games while Doty extended his to two. The two recorded an assist on Pinelli’s goal as the Reign continue to get great play for their fourth line.

*Fagemo and Pinelli led all Reign skaters with five shots on goal. Ville Ottavainen led all Firebirds skaters with eight.

UP NEXT: The two teams will meet in the rematch tonight at Toyota Arena at 6 PM PST. It’s the annual Teddy Bear Toss game! The game can be seen on FloHockey and KCAL+. If you can’t watch the game you can listen to it on the ESPN LA app.

Featured image credit: Mike Zitek/Coachella Valley Firebirds

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