Ontario Reign: Three Takeaways From 4-3 SO Win Over Coachella Valley

The Ontario Reign played in a shootout for the second straight night but came away victorious this time around.

Goal Breakdown

First period:

CV: Luke Henman (3), ASST: David Goyette (2)

Second period: 

ONT: Francesco Pinelli (7), ASST: Taylor Ward (5), Joe Hicketts (15)

CV: PP John Hayden (7), ASST: Lleyton Roed (6), Jagger Firkus (11)

ONT: Jeff Malott (5), ASST: Caleb Jones (2), Reilly Walsh (10)

ONT: Samuel Fagemo (16), ASST: Glenn Gawdin (18), Jack Millar (3)

Third period:

CV: Ryan Winterton (8), ASST: Ville Ottavainen (6), Ryan Jones (3)

Overtime:

None

Shootout:

Round one:

CV: Brandon Biro – GOAL

ONT: Glenn Gawdin – GOAL

Round two: 

CV: Logan Morrison – GOAL

ONT: Jeff Malott – GOAL

Round three:

CV: Jani Nyman – NO GOAL

ONT: Samuel Fagemo – GOAL

Stats

Goals:

ONT: 4

CV: 3

Shots:

ONT: 39

CV: 22

Power plays:

ONT: 0/1

CV: 1/3

Here are the three takeaways from yesterday’s victory: 

First line dominance

There was plenty to like about this game from the Reign compared to their shootout loss to San Diego on Friday. Their response was great after the three Firebirds’ goals. However, this game was all about the first line. Ontario’s top-line dominated possession in the offensive zone, especially in the third period.

The trio of Samuel Fagemo, Glenn Gawdin, and Jeff Malott combined for 17 of the Reign’s 34 shots on goal at five-on-five through three periods (not counting OT). Fagemo (8) and Malott (8) combined for 16.

Want another stat?

The 17 shots on goal were the most from any Reign forward line at five-on-five out of the total 29 shots on goal registered from the forwards at five-on-five.

That’s not counting blocked or missed shots. It’s probably more if you count every attempt. They scored one goal at five-on-five (Malott’s goal was at four-on-four) and weren’t on the ice for a goal against. Anytime a line spends most of their ice time in the offensive zone, it’s a good night for them. That’s the kind of game the Reign’s top line had—pure dominance.

Pinelli stays red hot

Francesco Pinelli has the hot hand. Pinelli recorded his fourth goal in the last four games and third this weekend with his goal in the second period. The goal was another perfectly placed shot, this time top corner, blocker side on Jack LaFontaine upon zone entry.

Pinelli also had seven shots on goal, six coming at five-on-five. It was consecutive games where he was one of Ontario’s better players, being noticeable all night. What I like about Pinelli’s game during this four-game hot stretch is his willingness to shoot the puck, averaging four shots on goal during this stretch. He is now a 0.50 point-per-game player (13 points in 26 games), an improvement from this time of last year.

Shootout perfection

Ontario went to a shootout for the second straight game. However, this one ended in a different result that went in their favor. Marco Sturm switched things up after going with Arthur Kaliyev, Taylor Ward, and Fagemo in Friday’s game. Not having Kaliyev because he was called up to the Kings, Sturm opted to go with Gawdin, Malott, and Fagemo.

Gawdin and Malott matched goals with Brandon Biro and Logan Morrison in the first two rounds. Heading into the third round tied at two, the Firebirds tabbed Jani Nyman as the shooter. Unlike Biro and Morrison, who went five-hole on Pheonix Copley, Nyman attempted to go seven-hole on Copley and missed the net.

That set the stage for Fagemo to walk it off.

Fagemo, like Gawdin and Malott, skated down the right side, cut to the middle, and fired the puck by Jack LaFontaine’s blocker side, giving the Reign a perfect 3-for-3 in the shootout. All three of the Reign shootout goals plus Fagemo and Pinell’s goal in regulation went blocker side on LaFontaine.

The Reign have a record of 3-1 in the shootout with a conversion rate of 6-for-11.

NOTES:

*Fagemo recorded his 16th goal of the season.

*John Parker-Jones made his Reign debut and played on the fourth line. Fagemo got bumped up to the first line with Kaliyev called up to the Kings. Shawn Element moved up to Fagemo’s spot on the second line in a corresponding move.

*Caleb Jones recorded an assist in back-to-back games.

*Luke Henman scored the teddy bear toss goal for the Firebirds. The Reign have had defensive zone breakdowns in the slot and weak side areas of the ice lately. They will have to clean that up.

*Ontario evened the season series against the Firebirds. The final two matchups between the two will be at Toyota Arena on January 4th and 25th.

UP NEXT: The Reign Train travels to Henderson to conclude the 2024 calendar year with a New Year’s Eve matchup against the Silver Knights. The game starts at 5 PM PST and can be seen on FloHockey. You can also listen to the game on the ESPN LA app.

Featured image credit: Mike Zitek/Coachella Valley Firebirds

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