Ontario Reign: Three Takeaways From 3-2 SO Win Over Henderson

The Ontario Reign clawed their way back down by one goal twice in the final seven minutes to steal two points in a shootout over the Henderson Silver Knights.

Goal Breakdown

First period: 

HSK: Mitch McLain (6), ASST: Kai Uchaz (11), Jeremy Davies (9)

Second period:

None

Third period: 

ONT: Taylor Ward (12), ASST: Cole Guttman (12), Nikita Alexandrov (15)

HSK: Ben Hemmerling (7), ASST: Dylan Coghlan (8), Tanner Laczynski (17)

ONT: Andre Lee (13), ASST: Nikita Alexandrov (16), Glenn Gawdin (17)

Overtime:

None

Shootout:

ROUND ONE:

HSK: Ben Hemmerling – NO GOAL

ONT: Cole Guttman – GOAL

ROUND TWO:

HSK: Matyas Sapovaliv – NO GOAL

ONT: Glenn Gawdin – GOAL

ROUND THREE:

HSK: Jonas Rondbjerg – NO GOAL

ONT: N/A

Stats

Goals: 

ONT: 3

HSK: 2

Shots: 

ONT: 31

HSK: 28

Power plays: 

ONT: 0/3

HSK: 0/4

Here are the three takeaways from Tuesday night’s shootout victory:

Better puck management

Puck management was the only negative in this one for the Reign. No team will play their best every game on the 72-game schedule, and for a good chunk of the first half of the game, it was looking that way with the turnovers in their own end by the defensemen. But they found a way to overcome it and snag two critical points in the standings.

Andre Lee to the rescue

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Andre Lee scored a big goal again for the Reign. Lee added to his new career high in goals with a late-game tally with 25 seconds remaining in regulation.

With six forwards on the ice and the goalie pulled, Lee scored his second six-on-five goal in the last four games. This time, instead of a clean rebound shot, he banked it in from behind the red line off of a scrambling Carl Lindbom.

Lee continues to be as clutch as they come for the Reign this year.

Isaiah Saville slams the door

Isaiah Saville continued his masterful play. He won his sixth game of the year, and, in my mind, got snubbed from the three stars of the game. Saville kept the Reign in the game when they weren’t at their best, and by doing that, gave the Reign a chance to win by keeping the score 1-0.

He made timely saves, including stopping his former teammate, Jakub Brabenec, on a penalty shot late in the second period. And when the Reign needed him the most in the shootout, he slammed the door shut on all three Silver Knights attempts.

Saville has played tremendously in the absence of Pheonix Copley (called up to the Kings) and Erik Portillo (injury). Copley was loaned back to the Kings yesterday, so I would expect him and Saville to be the goaltending tandem going forward until Portillo returns.

You have to feel happy for Saville to come back after missing all of last season due to an injury and take his opportunity and play well. I’m sure defeating his former team was also special for him as well.

NOTES:

*Nikita Alexandrov extended his point streak to five games with his two assists.

*Glenn Gawdin extended his point streak to eight games with his assist.

*Cole Guttman returned to the lineup after serving his two-game suspension and scored the game-winning goal in the shootout on a nifty move.

*Taylor Ward snapped a five-game skid without a goal to tie the game at one in the third period. His 12th goal of the season tied his AHL career high from last season.

*The win gave the Reign their second victory of the year when trailing after 40 minutes. They are now 2-8-0-0 when trailing after 40 minutes of play.

UP NEXT: The Ontario Reign return home tonight to play their final game of 2025 and their final game of the season against the San Jose Barracuda. The puck drops at 6 PM PST, and you can watch the game on FloHockey or KCAL+ (channel 9.6). If you are unable to watch the game, you can listen to it on the Ontario Reign radio network or on the ESPN LA app.

Featured image credit: Henderson Silver Knights

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