Ontario Reign: Three Takeaways From 5-4 OT Loss to San Diego

The Ontario Reign had victory in their hands, but the San Diego Gulls snatched it from them with a late comeback to win in overtime.

Final.

#ReignTrain | #SDvsONT pic.twitter.com/qFOFfnLd8a Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) February 9, 2025 Goal Breakdown First period: SD: Justin Bailey (13), ASST: None Second period: ONT: Francesco Pinelli (11), ASST: Tyler Madden (16), Jack Millar (8) ONT: Joe Hicketts (2), ASST: Francesco Pinelli (9), Samuel Helenius (3) pic.twitter.com/iy9WBetHPA Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) February 9, 2025 SD: Jan Mysak (12), ASST: Sasha Pastujov (19), Carson Meyer (11) Third period: ONT: Martin Chromiak (8), ASST: Charles Hudon (21), Joe Hicketts (18) ONT: Jeff Malott (13), ASST: None And the final beauty of the night goes to Malott!! pic.twitter.com/YMomn7WRuI Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) February 9, 2025 SD: PP Ryan Carpenter (11), ASST: Tristan Luneau (19), Jan Mysak (14) SD: Sam Colangelo (16), ASST: Justin Bailey (9), Tristan Luneau (20) Overtime: SD: Nikita Nesterenko (6), ASST: Tristan Luneau (21), Jan Mysak (15) Shots Goals: SD: 5 ONT: 4 Shots: SD: 24 ONT: 37 Power plays: SD: 1/2 ONT: 0/3 Here are the three takeaways from yesterdays overtime loss: Pinelli finds the scoresheet Francesco Pinelli had a solid game, especially in the middle frame.

Pinelli recorded a goal and primary assist on Joe Hicketts tally for his sixth multi-point game of the season.

What I liked about Pinellis goal were his patience, poise, and soft hands with the puck on his stick.

Not having much time once the puck touched his stick, Pinelli didnt rush the shot and with good patience was just able to slide the puck past Calle Clangs left pad to tie the game early in the second period.

ICYMI & Dont follow us on Instagram (which you should btw) We got these beauties for you! pic.twitter.com/2kafGRArqA Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) February 9, 2025 The two points in the middle frame gave Pinelli 20 points (11 G- 9 A) in 43 games.

The second-year pro tied his point total from his rookie season last year where he posted 20 points (13 G 7 A) in 67 games.

Here is Pinellis answer on improvements in his game from last year to his second season: Carrying the puck a little more, shooting, so I think those all play a factor for sure.

Obviously a second year in the league also helps.

More confidence and comfortable.

With the Reign having a healthy lineup, Pinelli has been relegated to the fourth line after playing in the top nine for most of the season.

With the standings being as close as they are, finishing the season strong, contributing, and being consistent can go a long way for his development and make a case as being an option for a call-up next year.

Third-period collapse for the second straight game The Reign had a two-goal lead with 3:38 to play.

Caleb Jones would take a boarding penalty and everything went downhill.

Ryan Carpenter scored on a deflection in front of Erik Portillo with 2:39 to play and Sam Colangelo tied it with 28.8 seconds remaining, as Jack Studnicka couldnt get his stick to break up the pass, to stun the Reign and the crowd.

A game that looked like a victory was taken away in the final three minutes.

Nikita Nesterenko completed the comeback in overtime with a zone-entry wrist shot that went glove side on Portillo, giving the Reign their most devastating loss of the season.

Watching the play live and on the replay that is a goal that Portillo will want to have back.

Its the second overtime goal against that has beaten him toward that glove side from that side of the ice.

GWG #LetsGoGulls | #SDvsONT pic.twitter.com/rBags6uXfS San Diego Gulls (@SDGullsAHL) February 9, 2025 For Ontario, this is the second time in as many games a multi-goal lead has evaporated late in the third period.

The third period has been their strongest all year, but they have struggled to hold a lead in the last two games in that frame.

Taking untimely, costly penalties plays a part and Marco Sturm used the word frustrating in his media availability when describing how tough it was to lose that game.

For it to happen twice in a week against non-playoff teams it does cause for concern.

The Reign need to be better at protecting a lead late in the game, plain and simple.

A tough point to lose The Reign got a point but losing that second point is a tough pill to swallow considering how tight the standings currently are.

Leaving points on the table in a game where you have control and let one slip away is tough and can come back to affect the Reign in the standings.

Six points separate the second to the sixth seed.

With 29 games remaining in the Reign season, every point gained or lost will be crucial and make way for an exciting finish to the season.

They have one game in hand on the Abbotsford Canucks, three on the Coachella Valley Firebirds, and four on the Calgary Wranglers.

NOTES: * Erik Portillo has a .833 save percentage in his last six games.

Its been a rough stretch for the second-year pro and the Reign will need him to turn it around, which he is capable of, down the stretch.

* Jean-Francois Berube served as the emergency backup goalie (EBUG) for the Reign with Pheonix Copley being called up to the LA Kings on an emergency basis.

*Martin Chromiak recorded his third goal in his last six games.

CHROMIEEE pic.twitter.com/VLcFG7bfTA Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) February 9, 2025 *Jan Mysak posted a goal and two assists and now has 12 points (4 G 8 A) in his last eight games.

just wow #LetsGoGulls | #SDvsONT pic.twitter.com/IBSRKM0Bv0 San Diego Gulls (@SDGullsAHL) February 9, 2025 *Tristan Luneau recorded three assists in the final 4:14 of the third and overtime periods.

He has 16 (4 G 12 A) points in his last eight games.

*Sasha Pastujov extended his AHL-leading point streak to 13 games with his primary assist on Mysaks goal in the second period.

He has 21 points (6 G 15 A) in that span.

*The Reign outshot the Gulls 21-4 in the second period.

*The Reign are 12-12-2-0 when the opposition scores first.

UP NEXT: The Ontario Reign return to action on Wednesday for a matchup at home against the Tucson Roadrunners.

The game starts at 7 PM PST and can be seen on FloHockey and KCAL+ (channel 9.6).

You can also listen to the game on the ESPN LA app..

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