The Ontario Reign looked to salvage a two-game, West coast set in a rematch from Friday night against the Texas Stars. Phoenix Copley, the reigning AHL player of the week [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/latest-news/reigns-copley-gawdin-win-ahl-awards], got the start in net for Ontario, while Magnus Hellberg was minding the net for Texas. After shutting the Stars out just four days prior, Copley allowed a goal just 41 seconds in. Arttu Hyry found a rebound and fired a spinning wrist shot into the back of the net. The early goal seemed to invigorate Ontario as they upped the intensity and attacked the Texas net with a high volume of shots. The Reign responded on the power play, as Sammy Fagemo retrieved a rebound and quickly released a shot past Hellberg to even the score at one. Ontario then took the lead as Francesco Pinelli got in on the fun, blasting a one-timer [https://x.com/ontarioreign/status/1864152433712148684]past Hellberg from just outside the circles. The teams went back and forth in the second period, starting with Texas' Alexander Petrovic evening the game at two. Then, Angus Booth scored the second goal of his AHL career on a shot that went off the stick of a Texas defender and trickled in. Unfortunately for Ontario, Hyry would score his second of the game, beating Copley far side to tie the game for the Stars yet again. In the third, the ever dangerous Antonio Stanges would give the Stars the lead with eventual the game winning goal. An empty netter would seal the deal, as the Stars get their revenge on the Reign with a 5-3 victory. Here are my three takeaways from the game Weak 4th Line Jacob Doty made his return in this game, and it made the 4th line entirely weaker from the very jump. The 7th year Reign veteran was out the last few games due to an unknown injury. This allowed the 4th line of Element, Lawrence, and Jamsen to really show out. Element has been a good support player all year, while Lawrence and Jamsen seem to have found chemistry, allowing the line to be effective. “We just want to get everyone involved,” said Marco Sturm. It looks like Sturm will opt to rotate guys in and out of that fourth line. It's a but puzzling considering Lawrence and Jamsen are both guys who can potentially be bottom six players in the NHL. Pinelli Promising Francesco Pinelli found himself on the scoresheet twice in this game, scoring a goal and getting the primary assist on Booth’s tally. Although he hasn’t gotten off to the start he probably wished for, Pinelli hasn’t been all that bad. He has registered eight points in eighteen games, consistently creating plays with his skating ability. Last season, Pinelli had a slow first half, and really took off in the second. I expect the same this season.. Missed Opportunity This game is highlighted by the four minute double-minor penalty on Hyry that the Reign failed to score on. Down 4-3 in the third period, Ontario managed to get off just two shots on goal on the extended man-advantage, while allowing a shot on their own end. Even though the Reign did convert on the power play in this game, the missed opportunity on the 4-minute power play was a microcosm of their glaring issues on the man advantage thus far this season. copleyports
