Ontario Reign: Three Takeaways From 2-0 Loss to Henderson

It was an ugly game that saw the Ontario Reign end up on the losing side in a 2-0 defeat to the Henderson Silver Knights.

Goal Breakdown

First period: 

None

Second period: 

None

Third period: 

HSK: Tanner Laczynski (1), ASST: None

HSK: PP Raphael Lavoie (2), ASST: Lukas Cormier (1), Jeremy Davies (1)

Stats

Goals:

HSK: 2

ONT: 0

Shots:

HSK: 25

ONT: 18

Power play: 

HSK: 1/5

ONT: 0/4

Here are the three takeaways from Friday’s 2-0 defeat:

Ugly game

It wasn’t a pretty game for the Reign last night. From the moment the puck dropped, you could see the team wasn’t crisp in any facet of the game. Add special teams to that equation, and the Reign batted 0-for-4 (that isn’t good compared to Shohei Ohtani’s 3-home run performance last night), including a 5-on-3 for 1:13 in the second period that the Reign squandered, and undisciplined penalties.

Too many penalties, not capitalizing on power play chances, and not many offensive chances, and that’s the result you will get more times than not. It was an ugly game all around for the Reign.

Erik Portillo was solid despite the loss

Despite it being an ugly game, one bright spot for the Reign was Erik Portillo. Portillo started his third straight game to open the season and has looked better each game. Portillo was one of the few bright spots for the Reign, stopping 23 of 25 shots (.920 sv%).

Ontario’s netminder didn’t see much action in the opening 20 minutes but got more work in the middle frame, where he turned aside all 11 shots, keeping the Reign in the game. As I’ve said before with Portillo returning from his back injury, patience will be needed.

Jack Hughes and Kenny Connors

Nights like last night will happen and serve as a learning process for the newly inserted prospects in the Reign lineup. Let’s talk about two prospects. Two players I want to mention briefly are Jack Hughes and Kenny Connors.

Both players were drafted in 2022; Hughes was selected in the second round, while Connors was taken two rounds later. Hughes made his professional debut, slotting in on the fourth line as a left wing. Hughes didn’t stuff the stat sheet, but drew a penalty in the offensive zone on his first shift.

Connors recorded one shot on goal but has done a good job, from the eye test, in the faceoff circle as the fourth-line center through three games. He’s already earned the trust and praise from head coach Andrew lord, and it shows with how much he has used him, including on the penalty kill.

NOTES:

*Cole Guttman led all Reign skaters with three shots on goal. Raphael Lavoie and Lukas Cormier led all Silver Knights skaters with four.

*Carl Lindbom earned his first shutout of the season, making 18 saves.

*Guttman and Akil Thomas had the “A” on their jerseys.

UP NEXT: The Ontario Reign return to action tomorrow against the Colorado Eagles at 3 PM PST. You can watch the game on FloHockey or listen on the Ontario Reign radio network.

Featured image credit: Megan Sanders/Ontario Reign

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