Ontario Reign: Three Stars of the Week 11/2-11/8

The Ontario Reign played three games last week and went 1-1-1-0. The Reign entered the week on a four-game losing streak that extended to six, but ended it on a high note with a 3-0 win over the Abbotsford Canucks.

The Reign started the week earning a point with an overtime loss at home to the San Jose Barracuda, extending their losing streak to five. The Reign traveled north to Abbotsford for a two-game weekend series against the Canucks. The weekend started with a lethargic 2-1 loss, but a solid rebound win less than 24 hours later ended the week and their six-game losing streak.

Despite dropping two of their three games, three players stood out. Let’s see who those players were in our three stars of the week segment.

Third star

Kaleb Lawrence

STATS: Three games played, two goals, zero assists, two points, +2 rating, eight shots on goal

Kaleb Lawrence was the best Reign skater from start to finish. The former 2022 seventh-round pick scored in each of the first two games, bringing his season total to three. Lawrence not only had a solid week on the stat sheet, but he also played a strong forecheck and showed his physicality off the scoresheet. I don’t see him as a full-time NHL player given his limited ceiling and skill set, but I have to give credit where credit is due for his performance last week.

Second star

Erik Portillo

STATS: One game, 0-1-0-0 record, two goals against, 32 saves on 34 shots faced, .941 sv%

Erik Portillo is this week’s second star, with 32 saves in Ontario’s 2-1 loss to Abbotsford. Despite the loss, Portillo played phenomenally. The Reign were on their heels for most of the game, and the 26-year-old kept one of the league’s hottest offenses at bay. It was the highest save percentage in a single game for the 26-year-old this season.

First star

Carter George

STATS: Two games played, 1-0-1-0 record, three goals against, 52 saves on 55 shots faced, .945 sv%

Carter George suffered the loss to start the week, but ended it with an exclamation point at the end. George turned aside 23 of 26 shots (.885 sv%) in an overtime loss to the Barracuda, but was perfect in the Reign’s 3-0 victory over Abbotsford. The 20-year-old rookie stopped all 29 shots he faced, making three or four incredible, noteworthy saves. It was the first shutout by a Reign goalie this season and the second of George’s career. George has a 3-1-1-0 record, 1.99 GAA, and .922 sv% in five starts this season.

GAMES THIS WEEK: vs Abbotsford (11/14) and vs Colorado (11/15)

Featured image credit: Megan Sanders/Ontario Reign

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