Ontario Reign: Pluses and Minuses From Week 6

Week six for the Ontario Reign started off rough, but ended on a high note. The Reign played in three games. They lost the first game at home to San Jose, but split the weekend in Abbotsford. Even though Ontario had its second straight losing week, there were plenty of takeaways. Below are my pluses and minuses from the Reign’s Week 6.

Pluses:

+: Losing streak is over

The Reign entered the week on a four-game losing streak, and it continued through the first two games before ending. The Reign snapped its six-game losing streak with a 3-0 road win over the Abbotsford last Saturday in a complete team performance. After struggling to string together a 60-minute effort, this game may be the one to get them back on track.

+: Francesco Pinelli finally gets on the board

It’s no secret Francesco Pinelli’s start to the season has been a disappointment. Entering the week, the 23-year-old forward had one goal in ten games. After going 11 games without a goal, Pinelli finally potted one on a penalty shot attempt in the Reign’s 3-0 win over Abbotsford. Pinelli showed off his silky mitts by drawing Canucks netminder Ty Young to bite on the stick handle. Let’s see if that gets him going offensively, because his two goals are his only points through 13 games.

+: Kaleb Lawrence has a strong week

Kaleb Lawrence was unquestionably the best Reign skater throughout the week. Lawrence scored a goal in each of the first two games and played strong on the forecheck, using his size and good defense. I don’t see a path to the NHL for him, but credit where credit is due for the strong week the former 2022 seventh-round pick had.

+: A great week for the goalies

If you were a Reign goalie last week, take a bow! The Reign got solid goaltending from Carter George (two starts) and Erik Portillo (one start). The two games that stood out were the two in Abbotsford. Portillo and George each got one start against Abbotsford and not only gave the Reign a chance in each game, but also stymied one of the AHL’s hottest offenses.

Portillo suffered the loss, but stopped 32 of 34 shots (.941 sv%) in a game the Reign were thoroughly outplayed. George followed that up with a 29-save shutout, his first of the season. In two games, the Reign goaltending tandem allowed two goals; I say that’s pretty damn good.

+: Penalty kill goes perfect

The Reign penalty kill had a good week. That unit went 10-for-10 when shorthanded. The Reign’s overall penalty kill ranks 15th in the AHL (83.0%), but it ranks 8th on the road (85.3%).

+: Kenny Connors records first NHL point

Kenny Connors got the call-up to the Kings and produced his first NHL point with an assist on Erik Haula’s goal in a 7-2 beatdown against the San Jose Sharks.

Minuses:

-: Another losing week

The losing is the first thing that stands out when dissecting the Reign’s week. For the second straight week, the Reign finished with more losses than wins (1-1-1-0 record). They did end it on a high note with a win, at least.

-: No luck on home ice still

Home ice still hasn’t been kind to the Reign. In their only home game last week, the Reign lost 3-2 in overtime to the Barracuda. In six games, the Reign hold a 1-4-1-0 record on home ice.

-: Power play still looks out of sorts

The power play couldn’t scratch the scoresheet (0-for-8) and looked out of sorts. I don’t see significant changes on the horizon, but I would like to see rookie Henry Brzustewicz get more reps on PP1. Look, it’s not all on Scott Perunovich or Joe Hicketts that the power-play units have struggled, but for development purposes, I would like to see Brzustewicz get ice time there. He’s played in that spot in juniors and should be getting ice time there as part of his development, not veterans like Perunovich and Hicketts, who can (either one) be on PP2.

-: Dropping like flies

The Reign had Jared Wright and Kenta Isogai miss both games in Abbotsford with an injury. Wright was a late-game scratch in the first game against Abbotsford, forcing the Reign to go with an 11-forward and 7-defensemen alignment. The following game, the Reign went with a normal 12-forward and 6-defensemen lineup after forward Ryan O’Hara was called up from Greenville (ECHL). For what it’s worth, O’Hara was loaned back to the ECHL yesterday.

-: Hampton Slukynsky loaned to Greenville

Hampton Slukynsky was loaned to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, ending the three-man goalie rotation the Reign were deploying. The Kings’ decision to run it back with Darcy Kuemper and Anton Forsberg forced a logjam in the AHL, where Portillo, George, and Slukynsky all needed playing time.

Hence the three-goalie rotation.

The downside is that it reduces playing time and rhythm for all three. Portillo needs starts because general manager Ken Holland appointed him the organization’s number-three goalie, and he needs them to be ready for a call-up; meanwhile, George and Slukynsky also need starts to develop. One goalie had to be sent down, and it was Slukynsky. I wouldn’t be surprised if they decide to alternate swapping George and Slukynsky between the AHL and ECHL down the road.

We’ll have an update on Slukynsky’s play with the Swamp Rabbits within the next 24-48 hours.

Featured image credit: Darren Scott Francis/Abbostford Canucks

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