Ontario Reign: Three takeaways from 4-2 loss to San Jose

Goal Breakdown

First period:

None

Second period:

SJ: SH Luke Johnson (9), ASST: Derrick Pouliot (17)

SJ: Danil Gushchin (13), ASST: Derrick Pouliot (18)

ONT: Tyler Madden (14), ASST: TJ Tynan (58), Lias Andersson (20)

SJ: Andrew Agozzino (18), ASST: Artemi Kniazev (14), Jeffrey Viel (13)

Third period:

SJ: SH Andrew Agozzino (19), ASST: Jeffrey Viel (14)

ONT: PP Tyler Madden (15), ASST: Martin Chromiak (13), Lias Andersson (21)

Stats

Goals:

ONT: 2

SJ: 4

Shots:

ONT: 27

SJ: 22

Power-plays:

ONT: 1/6

SJ: 0/2

Here are the three takeaways from Friday’s 4-2 loss:

Tyler Madden strikes twice

There wasn’t much offense early on for the Ontario Reign last night. Madden provided both goals for the Reign as his first one came in the second period off a nice centering pass from captain TJ Tynan. The goal brought the Reign within one and it would be the closest they get the rest of the way.

Madden would score another one 8:40 into the third period on a 5-on-3 power-play goal to make the score a bit more respectable. While it has been an up-and-down year for the 23-year-old, last night was his 3rd multi-goal game of the season.

Special teams disaster

The special teams for the Ontario Reign were a disaster last night. In the previous game against Abbotsford, the Reign went 1-for-6 on the man advantage, including a failed attempt to tie the game in the final three minutes. Last night they went 1-for-6 again with their lone goal coming on a 5-on-3 goal by Tyler Madden. While going 1-for-6 wasn’t good, it was allowing two short-handed goals that was more of the issue.

With those two short-handed goals allowed, the Ontario Reign have now given up 13(!) short-handed goals on the season, which leads the AHL. When going on the power play you need your best players to be at their best and unfortunately for the Reign, they weren’t.

Missed opportunity

For the third straight game, the Ontario Reign had a chance to either tie or take sole possession of third place in the division. Unfortunately, they didn’t take advantage of either opportunity. While the Abbotsford Canucks were idle last night, the Colorado Eagles defeated the Calgary Wranglers at home and are now tied with Abbotsford for third place in the division. With their loss last night, the Ontario Reign are now in fifth place in the division. The end of the regular season is near and the race for the third seed will be a crazy finish.

UP NEXT: The Ontario Reign are back in action tonight as they travel to Bakersfield to take on the Condors. The game starts at 7 pm PT and can be seen on AHLTV.