Ontario Reign: Three Takeaways From 4-2 Win Over the Roadrunners

The Ontario Reign outscored their opponent in the second period for the second straight game en route to a 4-2 victory.

Goal Breakdown

First period:

ONT: Francesco Pinelli (9), ASST: Cole Guttman (19)

TUC: Austin Poganski (13), ASST: Dmitri Simashev (17), Robbie Russo (4)

Second period: 

ONT: Aatu Jamsen (14), ASST: Francesco Pinelli (16)

ONT: Andre Lee (19), ASST: Kenny Connors (18), Otto Salin (1)

TUC: Daniil But (9), ASST: Andrew Agozzino (12)

Third period: 

ONT: EN, SH Jack Millar (2), ASST: Glenn Gawdin (28)

Stats

Goals: 

ONT: 4

TUC: 2

Shots: 

ONT: 30

TUC: 17

Power plays: 

ONT: 0/4

TUC: 0/4

Here are the three takeaways from Saturday night’s 4-2 victory:

A good game from Franky Pinelli

This was supposed to be the year third-year pro Francesco Pinelli would take a leap entering the final year of his contract; instead, it’s been a quiet 25 points in 44 games. Being over a half-a-point per game player isn’t bad, but the overall play hasn’t.

It’s been a while, but the third-year pro had a good overall game from start to finish, and it started with him scoring the game’s first goal. It wasn’t the goal that stood out with his Pinelli. He was constantly moving his feet and set up Koehn Ziemmer twice on the power play late in the third period for two good chances that were denied.

The two-point night from Pinelli gave him his eighth point in 11 games and 11 points in his last 16 games. It’s good to see him pick up points playing in a top-six role, but like last year, consistency on both sides of the ice is something he needs to be down the stretch of the season.

More second-period success

Deja vu! Ontario entered the second period tied and scored multiple goals in succession in the frame for the second straight game. Two goals in 54 seconds past the halfway point of the period by Andre Lee and Aatu Jamsen proved to be the difference in the victory for the Reign.

Jamsen continued his red-hot scoring prowess with a quick wrist shot by the glove of Jaxson Stauber off a faceoff win by Francesco Pinelli. Jamsen’s goal was his 14th point in his last 21 games, with 10 of those points being goals.

As for Lee, his five-hole goal held as the game winner as he got back in the goal column after not scoring one in his previous seven games. Overall, the second period has been Ontario’s best as they own a +18 goal differential in the frame (57-39).

A shutdown third period

The best way to defend is to play in the other team’s end rather than sitting back on a lead. Ontario did just that in the final frame by dominating. They outshot the Roadrunners 12-3 in the frame. They also didn’t allow any quality looks until being tested on the penalty kill with 2:09 left as the Roadrunners pulled Stauber for the extra attacker, making it a six-on-four.

Although Ontario couldn’t extend its lead until Jack Millar’s short-handed, empty-net goal with 1:13 to play, the third period was nothing short of shutting down the opposition. You could make the case that it was their best 20 minutes of the game.

NOTES:

*Cole Guttman’s assist gave him his 21st point (13 G, 8 A) in his last 21 games.

*Glenn Gawdin’s assist gave him his ninth point (5 G, 4 A) in his last 12 games.

*Pinelli recorded his first multi-point game (1 G, 1 A) since January 13th.

*Millar scored a goal in back-to-back games.

*Otto Salin recorded an assist to give him a point in back-to-back games. The assist was his first helper and point on the road this season.

*Ontario’s penalty kill continues to be splendid. They have successfully killed off 13 straight opposing power plays and haven’t allowed a power-play goal in their last six games.

*Pheonix Copley made 15 saves on 17 shots in the win.

UP NEXT: These two teams meet again this afternoon at 3 PM PST. You can watch the game on FloSports or listen to it on the Ontario Reign Radio Network or on the ESPN LA app.

Featured image credit: Kate Dibildox/Tucson Roadrunners

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