Ontario Reign: Notes From 3-1 Loss to Texas

There was no late-game magic as the Texas Stars were able to avenge their late-game defeat against the Ontario Reign from the previous night.

Goal Breakdown

First period:

TEX: Artem Shlaine (11), ASST: Luke Krys (3), Matthew Seminoff (10)

ONT: PP Cole Guttman (12), ASST: Kenny Connors (15), Martin Chromiak (16)

Second period:

TEX: PP Cameron Hughes (7), ASST: Trey Taylor (6), Harrison Scott (9)

Third period:

TEX: EN Cross Hanas (7), ASST: Michael Karow (11), Kole Lind (11)

Stats

Goals: 

ONT: 1

TEX: 3

Shots: 

ONT: 20

TEX: 15

Power plays:

ONT: 1/4

TEX: 1/4

Here are the notes from Sunday night’s 3-1 defeat:

No late-game magic this time

The Reign have had a knack for providing us with some late-game magic the last two games on this road trip. Entering the final frame down 2-1, you just felt like the trilogy would come. Well, it didn’t as Texas locked down the Reign offense by giving up very few high-danger chances and made sure there was no heartbreak in the H-E-B Center in as many nights. Even with the loss, there was still a belief system that this team could claw its way back. They never quit, and I got that sense throughout the night.

Need more at five-on-five

Although Ontario has been winning, they will need more five-on-five scoring. That’s not to say they have been bad, but the goal scoring at five-on-five has dried up these last three games. The Reign have scored nine goals in their last three games (averaging three goals per game), and only two have come at five-on-five, with goals by Kenta Isogai and Jared Wright. I don’t see this dry spell lasting too long, but it’s flown under the radar with these late-game heroics.

Power play strikes again

Speaking of needing more at five-on-five, the Reign haven’t had problems scoring on the man advantage lately. The five-forward unit capitalized once again as Cole Guttman’s fourth power-play tally. The Reign are 11-for-38 (28.9%) on the man advantage in their last ten games, having scored a power-play goal in four straight and at least one in nine of the last ten games.

Call up options?

It’s time the Kings stop blocking their prospects and give them a look. The risk-averse approach isn’t cutting it and hasn’t for years. It’s time for a small shakeup. Two options in mind are Martin Chromiak and Kenny Connors.

Chromiak has had an unbelievable turnaround offensively and deserves a look as his 31 points in 39 games lead the team. He could be penciled in at the second or third line winger if given the opportunity.

The other is Kenny Connors. Connors has been a viable third-line center, lately as a second-line center, for the Reign and has been used in all situations. With the Kings’ center options as limited as they are, could we see the organization give him a look?

Obviously, roster transactions will need to happen if this were to happen. Will the Kings give either a chance? Probably not. Would I like to see it happen? Of course. Given how close the standings are and the Kings being in every game, I don’t think that’ll deter their mindset of being “right there,” even with their recent skid.

OTHER NOTES:

*Chromiak extended his point streak to four games with a secondary assist. The 23-year-old has seven points (1-6-7) in that span with four primary assists.

*Connors extended his point streak to four games and has points in six of his last seven games, as well. He has seven points (2-5-7) in that stretch and an assist in four straight games.

*Logan Brown and Jacob Doty were inserted into the lineup for Jack Hughes and Kaleb Lawrence. For Brown, it was his first game since November 30th, ironically against Texas.

*Pheonix Copley got the start on his birthday and made 12 saves on 14 shots in the defeat.

*The Reign have surrendered the opening goal and trailed entering the third period in three straight games.

UP NEXT: The Ontario Reign return to California to close out their six-game road trip with a matchup against the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Friday, January 23rd. The game starts at 7 PM PST, and you can watch it on FloHockey. If you are unable to watch the game, you can listen to it on the Ontario Reign Radio Network and the ESPN LA app.

Featured image credit: Texas Stars

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