Ontario Reign: Four Takeaways From 2-1 SO Win Over Calgary

It took more than 60 minutes but the Ontario Reign prevailed in a shootout and took sole possession of first place in the division.

Goal Breakdown

First period: 

CGY: Hunter Bruzstewicz (4), ASST: David Silye (8), Trevor Janicke (1)

Second period: 

ONT: Joe Hicketts (2), ASST: Jeff Malott (25), Charles Hudon (31)

Third period:

None

Overtime: 

None

Shootout:

Round one:

CGY: William Stromgren – NO GOAL

ONT: Glenn Gawdin – GOAL

Round two: 

CGY: Jeremie Poirier – NO GOAL

ONT: Jeff Malott – GOAL

Stats

Goals: 

CGY: 1

ONT: 2

Shots: 

CGY: 27

ONT: 38

Power plays: 

CGY: 0/3

ONT: 0/3

Here are the four takeaways from Sunday night’s victory:

Playoff feel

Another game against the Calgary Wranglers within the week and it had a playoff feel once again. Calgary came into yesterday’s game after getting swept by Ontario a week ago in their building. With the Reign honoring the 2015 Manchester Monarchs Calder Cup championship team and first place in the division on the line, it had all the feel in the world of a playoff game. The game, pace, and atmosphere reflected that. Both goalies were on their game and the game was penalty-free through the first 40 minutes.

“There definitely was [a playoff feel]… Overall it was a really good hockey game,” Ontario Reign assistant coach Chris Hajt said on if last night’s game had that playoff feel with first place in the division at stake. Ultimately, the Reign skated away victorious on a night the 2015 Calder Cup champion Monarchs were in the house, and, more importantly, took sole possession of first place.

Pheonix Copley gets the start again

Pheonix Copley got the start. It was the second time this season he started both games of a back-to-back. Dryden McKay was the other option but the Reign tabbed the veteran starter for this important game. Copley was stellar for Ontario in this game, making 26 saves on 27 shots and not allowing a goal in the shootout. Copley also stopped all five shots on goal from the Wranglers during their power play attempts early in the third period. Three of those saves came on the five-on-three. The 33-year-old netminder has found a rhythm in his last eight games by allowing one goal or less in six of them and posting a .940 save percentage in that stretch. For his efforts, he was named the game’s first star.

The penalty kill comes up big + Joe Hicketts leading by example

Speaking of Copley, how about the Reign penalty kill? After allowing three power-play goals to San Jose two games ago, the Reign’s penalty came up big when they needed it to last night. Facing a five-on-three on two occasions, including a full two-minute one, in the third period, the Reign penalty killers kept everything to the outside, got their sticks in passing lanes, and committed to sacrificing the body to block shots. When the pucks got through, Copley was there to make the save.

Joe Hicketts, the captain of Ontario, led by example with two blocked shots, including one on Martin Frk’s shot attempt. The coaching staff named Hicketts the captain – the team’s fourth since 2014 going back to their last season in Manchester before relocating to Ontario – and he has done nothing but lead by example. While Hicketts said it was an honor for him to be named the captain, he wants to help lead by example for those younger players who aspire to be in the NHL.

“It was definitely a big honor. I want to lead by example for the most part. I think going out there putting in the work and showing what it takes to be a pro is something that can help further these young defensemen’s careers. And not just only [defensemen], it’s forwards too. It’s guys buying into a system, learning how to be a professional, and the pro level.” – Hicketts on wearing the ‘C’ and being a mentor to the younger players.

Veteran players are vital for an AHL roster to be leaders for incoming prospects. Having a player like Hicketts wear the ‘C’ and being the leader that he is, is the perfect veteran an AHL team could have on their roster.

Shootout success continues

Fitting that the two teams tied at the top of the standings needed extra time to decide this tilt. After overtime went scoreless – a frame that saw both teams combine for five shots on goal – a shootout was needed to decide this one. The Reign were 5-1 in shootouts, 60% (9/15) on attempts from their skaters, and opponents were 3/17 (17.6%) on their attempts. That success would continue.

Copley stopped William Stromgren’s attempt with a left pad save while Glenn Gawdin went with his signature move by starting wide on the right side, cutting to the middle, and firing the puck far side on the netminder in the first round.

Round two saw Jeremie Poirier lose control of the puck, setting the stage for Jeff Malott to give the Reign the victory. He gave the Reign a victory and did so by doing the same move Gawdin did, but shooting glove side on Waltteri Ignatjew. While it wasn’t career goal number 100 in the AHL, it was a walk-off shootout victory that gave the Reign the extra point and sole possession of first place for at least the next 48 hours.

The Reign continue to be automatic in the skills competition.

NOTES:

*Gawdin and Malott are a combined 7-for-7 in shootout attempts.

*Hicketts recorded his third goal of the season in the second period. Malott recorded his 100th career AHL assist on the play.

*Charles Hudon extended his point streak to nine games with an assist.

*Jakub Dvořák was praised by Coach Hajt after the game for his assertiveness and poise with the puck.

*I ran into Samuel Fagemo during the first intermission and he mentioned the injury he suffered on February 12th was to his hand. Sounds like he’s getting close to returning.

UP NEXT: The Ontario Reign aren’t in action until Friday when they hit the road for game one of a two-game weekend series in Colorado against the Eagles. That game starts at 6:05 PM PST and can be seen on FloHockey. You can also listen to that game on the ESPN LA app and ontarioreign.com/radio.

Featured image credit: Jon Huerta/Ontario Reign

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