Martin Chromiak’s Two-goal Performance Ignites the Ontario Reign’s 3-2 Comeback Victory Over the Calgary Wranglers

The Ontario Reign won their first home game of the season in comeback fashion over the Pacific Division’s first-place Calgary Wranglers on Tuesday night.

Scoring

First period:

None

Second period:

CGY: Tyson Gross (3), ASST: William Stromgren (8), Axel Hurtig (1)

ONT: PP Cole Guttman (3), ASST: Scott Perunovich (5), Martin Chromiak (1)

CGY: Rory Kerins (4), ASST: Dryden Hunt (6), Abram Wiebe (4)

Third period:

ONT: Martin Chromiak (3), ASST: Cole Guttman (2), Lane Pederson (6)

ONT: Martin Chromiak (4), ASST: Kirill Kirsanov (4)

Stats

Goals:

CGY: 2

ONT: 3

Sh0ts:

CGY: 26

ONT: 23

Power plays:

CGY: 0/2

ONT: 1/2

The theme night in the arena was WWE. On the ice, last year’s Pacific Division champions (Ontario Reign) faced the division’s current first-place team (Calgary Wranglers). After 40 minutes, the Reign trailed 2-1. Getting up from the mat slowly, Martin Chromiak delivered a jab and a knockout blow, scoring two third-period goals to seal the Reign’s comeback win. It was the second time the Reign won a game trailing after 40 minutes of play.

My takeaways from last night’s victory:

Carter George performed well

The Reign have completed two full rotations with their three goalies, and Carter George got his second start of the season. In his last start 10 days ago, George faced 19 shots and turned aside three or four high-danger chances. George faced 26 shots, stopped 24, and turned aside several quality looks again.

One particular save came with about three minutes remaining in the third period, when he made a glove save on a weak, deflected shot, showing poise and control on a difficult play. After making the save, George had some fun with the puck in his glove hand.

He never seems fazed in the moment. The future looks promising with George, Hampton Slukynsky, and Erik Portillo vying to make an impression on the organization.

Martin Chromiak saved the day

Martin Chromiak had a quiet last two games, but came through when it mattered most last night. Known for his shot, Chromiak scored twice in the third period, putting the Reign on his back offensively, leading to the comeback win.

Chromiak’s first strike came 24 seconds into the third period when he received Cole Guttman’s pass from the slot, and Chromiak had an open net to shoot at with a one-timer from his off-wing at the left circle.

His second tally came in the final three minutes when he picked up speed at the red line and used his speed and edge work to create separation from a Wrangler defender to snap a shot past the glove of Kirill Zarubin on the short side to give the Reign a 3-2 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Chromiak had a career-best 28 goals last season and will look to replicate that success to try and make his way onto the Kings roster in the future.

Winning the special teams

The Reign won the special teams battle for the second straight game, but came out on top this time. The Reign stayed out of the box but killed both of the AHL’s sixth-best power plays, bringing their success rate to 19-for-20 (95%) in their last 20 penalty-kill attempts.

The power play scored for the third straight game, and it came on a broken play with a different formation. The first unit had Chromiak at the left circle, Guttman at the right circle, Lane Pederson in the bumper, Francesco Pinelli down low, and Scott Perunovich up high at the blue line. The goal came after Chromiak made a nice keep-in at the blue line, leading to Perunovich feeding the puck to Guttman at the right circle, who roofed a wrist shot top shelf.

Perhaps Guttman on the right flank is something we can see going forward, with his shot and vision being perfect in that spot.

NOTES:

*Cole Guttman scored his third goal in the last four games.

*The Reign won their first home game of the season.

*Carter George won his second game of the season. The Reign rotated all three goalies to start, and with three games on the schedule this week, we should see each one get a start.

*Kaleb Lawrence recorded his second fighting major in back-to-back games. He faced former Reign Nikita Pavlychev.

*The win was only the Reign’s second in regulation.

*The Reign gave up the game’s first goal. It’s the fifth straight game that has happened.

*Last night featured the first two times Henry Brzustewicz and his brother Hunter Brzustewicz faced off in their pro careers. Henry got the last laugh as the Reign picked up the victory.

UP NEXT: The Reign will leave California for the first time this season with a two-game weekend tilt in Texas against the Stars. Game one is on Friday at 5 PM PST. You can watch the game on FloSports or listen on the Ontario Reign Radio Network.

Featured image credit: Megan Sanders/Ontario Reign

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