Ontario Reign: Three Takeaways From 3-2 Victory over San Jose

Goals Breakdown

First period:

ONT: Andre Lee (5), ASST: Samuel Fagemo (17)

ONT: Martin Chromiak (14), ASST: Glenn Gawdin (33)

SJ: SH Patrick Giles (6), ASST: None

SJ: PP Luca Cagnoni (14), ASST: None

Second period:

ONT: Aatu Jamsen (7), ASST: Francesco Pinelli (13), Reilly Walsh (25)

Third period:

None

Stats

Goals:

ONT: 3

SJ: 2

Shots:

ONT: 19

SJ: 38

Power plays:

ONT: 0/2

SJ: 1/5

Takeaways from the 3-2 victory over San Jose:

Pheonix Copley steals a massive two points

The Reign were outplayed for most of the night, and Pheonix Copley held down the net and was the best player on the ice.  He was outstanding in weathering wave after wave of the San Jose attack. He made grade A saves all night. He was quick off his posts, his positioning was good, and he made several saves sliding across to the other side to deny quality scoring chances from San Jose.

He has held the fort down in net all season and is looking like the number-one goalie for the Reign going into the playoffs, and it’s well deserved. There have been several games the Reign didn’t deserve to win, but Copley’s strong play has elevated them to being the second seed in the division at the moment. This was his best performance of the season, given how many high-quality chances San Jose had.

Martin Chromiak is heating up at the right time

It has been a tale of two seasons for Martin Chromiak. He had that long stretch of not finding any luck with the puck and is now thriving playing with Charles Hudon and Glenn Gawdin. He scored early in this game, 12 seconds after Andre Lee opened the scoring in the opening minute. It was another strong game for Chromiak, who’s continuing to elevate his play, and it’s the best he’s looked since January of 2023 (his rookie season).

He’s been good on the wing alongside Hudon and Gawdin. He’s starting to drive the play a lot more and start utilizing his skill set both with the goals and the passing, which is clicking tremendously. He’s developed chemistry with those two very quickly.

His turnaround has been remarkable, and with the Reign missing Jeff Malott due to the recall, he’s stepped up and has earned the ice time. His scoring over the last little while is such a key for Ontario, it provides them with more depth going into the playoffs, and when you can trust a player, it provides confidence not only to him but the team around him.

Penalty trouble/turnovers almost cost Ontario

While the Reign won the game, there are two areas they need to improve on with the playoffs rapidly approaching: being disciplined and reducing the sloppy turnovers. Ontario got into penalty trouble, giving San Jose five power play opportunities (it should’ve been four because Gawdin’s high-sticking penalty in the first period was on a follow-through shot attempt).

Giving a high-powered offense like San Jose 5 opportunities isn’t a recipe for success, and the Reign have to stay disciplined because other teams in the division, like Calgary and Colorado, will make you pay more often than not giving them plenty of power plays.  In the playoffs, discipline will be key because a power play in the playoffs can completely change momentum no matter what period it is.

The turnovers at 5v5 and when the Reign are on the power play are hurting them badly. San Jose took advantage of a sloppy turnover while the Reign were on the power play, and Patrick Giles scored a short-handed breakaway goal. While 5v5, the Reign are trying to force things in their own zone and neutral ice, and without Copley, the score could have been much more lopsided in San Jose’s favor.

I would like the Reign to simplify their game instead of trying to play fancy in neutral ice or their own zone, and make the simple pass or chip it off the boards quickly so the opposition can’t generate any momentum.

NOTES:

*Andre Lee scored his 5th goal of the season and has four points in his last two games.

*Martin Chromiak scored his 14th goal of the season and, with that goal, set a new career high in points with his 33rd point of the season.

*Aatu Jamsen scored his 7th goal of the season, which was the game-winning goal. He’s scored four times against San Jose this year.

*Francesco Pinelli recorded an assist; he has points in back-to-back games since returning from injury.

*Samuel Fagemo recorded an assist and is on a three-game point streak with two goals and two assists.

*Reilly Walsh recorded his 25th assist of the season and led Ontario with four shots on goal.

*Glenn Gawdin recorded his 33rd assist of the season and is also on a three-game point streak with three goals and an assist.

*Pheonix Copley stopped 36 of 38 shots to pick up his 22nd win on the season.

UP NEXT: The Reign travel to Calgary to take on the Calgary Wranglers on Saturday, April 5th. Puck drop is at 12:30 PM and can be viewed on FloSports and listened to on The ESPNLA app and ontarioreign.com/radio