Ontario Reign: Three Takeaways From Game 2’s 5-1 Win

The Ontario Reign played more like themselves, and it showed in a crucial Game 2 win as the series shifts to Coachella Valley.

Goal Breakdown

First period: 

CV: Lleyton Roed (1), ASST: Jacob Melanson (4), Oscar Fisker-Molgaard (3)

ONT: Logan Brown (1), ASST: Francesco Pinelli (1), Jack Millar (1)

Second period: 

ONT: Glenn Gawdin (1), ASST: Angus Booth (1), Andre Lee (1)

Third period: 

ONT: Cole Guttman (1), ASST: Andre Lee (2)

ONT: SH Francesco Pinelli (2), ASST: Jack Hughes (1), Joe Hicketts (1)

ONT: EN Martin Chromiak (1), ASST: None

Stats

Goals: 

CV: 1

ONT: 5

Shots: 

CV: 35

ONT: 24

Power plays: 

CV: 0/5

ONT: 0/0

Here are the three takeaways from Game 2’s victory:

That is more like it

After being out of sync in Game 1, the Reign were more like themselves in Game 2. From the start, it was evident their goal was to be more physical and finish checks in open ice and on the forecheck. Kenny Connors, Andre Lee, and Jared Wright were three players who were noticeable in finishing their checks in open ice or on the forecheck.

When asked if being more physical after the game, forward Francesco Pinelli offered an interesting take on the message of the Reign bringing more physicality to the table in Game 2 compared to the first game. “It frees up space,” he said. It makes it harder on their team. That’s a key for the playoffs.”

It wasn’t just finishing their checks; it was their passing, the gap control in the neutral and defensive zone, and the other small details they did right in the win. All four lines were a factor in the game, and when given scoring opportunities, the Reign didn’t miss them.

Despite trailing early and hitting two posts in the first period, if the Reign apply more pressure on the forecheck and play their game, they will see similar results to last night.

A shocking change in net works

I went into the arena expecting Erik Portillo to be the Game 2 starter. When the teams took the ice for warm-ups, Pheonix Copley led the team onto the ice, indicating him as the starting goalie, and I was perplexed. I thought Portillo was a lock to start the game, given his Game 1 performance and the organization most likely wanting to see him get the heavy workload in the playoffs.

Although Copley posted a .926 sv% in three games against the Firebirds in the regular season, the switch in net provided some risks. Copley hadn’t played in a game since April 7th. I’m sure the decision was also signed off on by others in the organization, not one made solely by Lord.

In the end, the concerns and questions were put to bed as Copley was a brick wall in net, stopping 34 of 35 shots, earning the first star of the game. When Copley is on his game, he doesn’t give up big rebounds, tracks the puck well, and holds onto it for a whistle. It’s as if his jersey is covered with Velcro.

When asked when he found out he would start the game, Copley gave a one-word answer: “Yesterday,” he said.

Now, with the teams not playing again until Tuesday, the question of who starts in net for Game 3 remains. Does Ontario go back with Portillo and go with a goalie rotation, or do they stick with the veteran in Copley?

Head Coach Andrew Lord didn’t show his hand after the game.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” he said about his potential Game 3 starter. Waiting is the hardest part, but we’ll know our answer in warm-ups on Tuesday.

Penalty kill prowess

The Reign penalty was splendid. That unit went 5-for-5 and got a short-handed marker on Jack Hughes’ pretty backhand pass on a two-on-one to skate around a sprawled out Firebirds defender when finding Pinelli on the backdoor.

The Reign got timely penalty kills in the second period of Game 1, but couldn’t seize momentum after; Game 2 was the opposite. Coachella Valley got the game’s first power play after Hughes sat for two minutes on a tripping call, but Jared Wright had a fantastic penalty kill shift, one that was extended due to the long change and offensive zone time from the Firebirds.

Wright got into shooting lanes, had good stick placement to prevent or break up passes, and even made a diving effort to get the puck out of the zone. Those are the plays that won’t show up on the scoresheet, but make an impact in the game. Obviously, Copley was strong all night on the penalty kill, making saves when he needed to.

From what could have been a possible 2-1 Firebirds lead ended up staying as a tied game. The penalty kill also went 4-for-4 in the third period, and Pinelli’s goal came early in the third period after Nikita Novikov took an interference penalty shortly after Cole Guttman’s tally put the Reign up 3-1.

The Reign lost the special teams battle in Game 1, but won the battle in Game 2.

NOTES:

*For the first time since 2018, a Reign playoff series will not end in a sweep. Their last seven playoff series, win or loss, ended in a sweep, dating back to 2022.

*Ontario won its first-ever playoff matchup against the Firebirds. The win was also the Reign’s first playoff win since May 8th, 2024.

*Glenn Gawdin scored his first Calder Cup playoff goal since June 10th, 2022, when he scored twice in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Chicago Wolves to help the Stockton Heat stave off elimination.

*Cole Guttman scored his first career Calder Cup playoff goal.

*Logan Brown scored his first career Calder Cup playoff goal.

*Pinelli’s short-handed goal was his first career AHL playoff point. He finished the game with two points, as did Andre Lee.

*Depth scoring and scoring by committee had been Ontario’s motto all season. They had 10 players record at least one point in the win.

UP NEXT: Game 3 will be on Tuesday, May 5th, at Acrisure Arena. The puck drops shortly after 7 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. The losing team will face elimination in Game 4.

Featured image credit: Megan Sanders/Ontario Reign

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