Ontario Reign: Three Takeaways from 3-0 Win Against San Diego

Goal Breakdown

First period: 

None

Second period:

ONT: PP Samuel Fagemo (29), ASST: Charles Hudon (24), Joe Hicketts (11)

ONT: PP TJ Tynan (6), ASST: Charles Hudon (25), Joe Hicketts (12)

Third period:

ONT: EN Akil Thomas (17), ASST: Charles Hudon (26), Tyler Madden (9)

Stats

Goals: 

SD: 0

ONT: 3

Shots: 

SD: 24

ONT: 22

Power plays: 

SD: 0/3

ONT: 2/5

Here are the three takeaways from Friday’s 3-0 victory:

Winning the special teams battle

Sometimes the difference in a game can come down to special teams. That was the case last night for the Reign in the final 40 minutes. Ontario got two power-play goals from Samuel Fagemo and TJ Tynan in the second period. Both goals came as the power plays were expiring. Both man-advantage opportunities didn’t start well, as the Reign didn’t generate many opportunities. However, in the final minute of each one, they moved the puck around and got good looks.

Fagemo’s goal came off quick passing as every Reign player touched the puck in that sequence.

Tynan’s goal was set up by Charles Hudon, who fed Tynan back door to make it 2-0. Hudon is usually the beneficiary of a Tynan pass, but last night was Tynan’s turn to be on the receiving end of one.

The penalty kill held their own once again. San Diego entered last night’s game with the number-one ranked power play on the road at 28.3% and 5-for-16 (31.3%) against Ontario in the season series. The Reign went 4-for-4 on the penalty kill, including having to kill off a five-minute penalty less than three minutes into the third period.

San Diego had a chance to swing the game, but the Reign penalty killers and Aaron Dell answered the bell with help from Josh Lopina, who took a tripping penalty 1:40 into the power play, shaving off two minutes. Special teams were a deciding factor in this one and the Reign ended up winning that department.

Francesco Pinelli looking more confident

It hasn’t been the smoothest transition this season for Francesco Pinelli. Pinelli, who recorded 90 points last year in juniors, has 10 points in 47 games this year. Early in the season, Marco Sturm had Pinelli as a healthy scratch to get him a different view and understanding of the game at the professional level by watching from the press box.

In November, Pinelli mentioned the speed, size, and puck management as areas he was adjusting to. Think of going from juniors to the professional level as a video game. As you go up each level it presents new differences and challenges, and you need to adjust. Unless you’re Logan Stankoven of the Texas Stars and can light up the scoresheet almost every night.

Lately, we’re starting to see Pinelli look like a confident player, making smart plays, and using his craftiness and skill. Perhaps the game has slowed down for him? If the game has slowed down for him, it means he is not rushing plays, making the first read, and able to escape pressure using his skating abilities going from east to west. It’s a good sign heading into the final stretch of the season.

Aaron Dells wins back-to-back games; records first shutout with the Reign

Aaron Dell was solid again and has won back-to-back games for the first time this season. Dell was tested as much through 40 minutes as he only had to make 10 saves, but San Diego had about three or four good chances they couldn’t capitalize on, particularly the two-on-none short-handed chance that Gulls forward Glenn Gawdin couldn’t capitalize on in the first period. The third period was his busiest. He saw 14 shots and stopped them all. In total, Dell made 24 saves to earn his first shutout of the season and number-one star of the game.

NOTES:

*Aaron Dell recorded his 11th career AHL shutout.

*Samuel Fagemo’s power-play goal was his 14th of the year, which leads the AHL.

*Joe Hicketts extended his point streak to six games. He has 10 points in that span (1-9-10).

*Charles Hudon recorded three assists for his second three-assist game of the season.

*Akil Thomas broke a five-game goal drought by scoring the empty-net goal for his 17th of the year.

UP NEXT: The homestand continues Sunday night as the Reign will welcome the Abbotsford Canucks to town. The game starts at 5 PM PT and can be seen on AHLTV.