The Ontario Reign (23-19-3-3) were unable to hold on to a late one-goal lead and came up short in a shootout by a 2-1 score to the Abbotsford Canucks (25-17-3-2) on Wednesday night at Toyota Arena.
Tyler Madden had the lone tally of the contest for the Reign, while Erik Portillo turned out 28 shots in a losing effort in between the pipes.
Neither side was able to get ahead in the first, despite multiple power play opportunities. The Reign held a 10-7 edge in shots on goal during the opening frame and had a 5-on-3 man-advantage look for the final 1:08 but were unable to convert.
Madden put Ontario on the board at 4:01 of the second with his 11th goal of the season from linemate Charles Hudon and defender Joe Hicketts. A fortunate bounce in the offensive end freed Madden up for a 1-on-1 with Abbotsford goaltender Nikita Tolopilo and the attacker moved around him before using his backhand to lift the puck into the net.
The Reign continued to hold the lead but were whistled for three straight penalties in the middle frame that changed the momentum in favor of Abbotsford. Ontario was successful on the penalty kill during the contest, holding the Canucks to a 0-for-6 mark on the man-advantage.
Sheldon Dries tied the game for Abbotsford at 17:50 of the third with his 15th goal of the year during a 4-on-4 where the Canucks pulled Tolopilo in exchange for an extra attacker. That sent the game into overtime, where Abbotsford held a 4-1 shot on goal advantage but neither team was unable to find a winner.
The Canucks eventually prevailed in the fourth round of the shootout when Linus Karlsson beat Portillo and Charles Hudon couldn’t solve Tolopilo. Earlier in the skill session, both Madden and Tristen Nielsen were able to convert for their respective clubs.
Tolopilo stopped 25 shots to earn the win for Abbotsford and earned the first star of the game. Ontario was also unable to get on the board during their man-advantage situations, ending the game at 0-for-4.
Postgame thoughts from Reign head coach Marco Sturm as well as Hicketts, are below.
Marco Sturm
On tonight’s game slipping away
We had a good start and a good first period because of it. We created some power plays and quite a lot of momentum. It just shifted after the first and we never really found our game after that. It was a one-to-nothing game. We could’ve won that game, yes, but we were due [to concede] for a while. We just can’t play like that. Everyone has got to understand their role and what they have on this team. You can only win as a team. It really started [to turn] for no reason in the second period. We gave the game and the momentum away with stupid penalties. Especially with Spence back, he’s such a threat on the power play so we wanted to be on the power play, but we were busy killing penalties. We didn’t deserve to win.
On the strong power play effort despite coming up empty
They were moving. It was just a weird rhythm. We should’ve scored on the five-on-three. For me, that was something we should have scored on. Other than that, it was not their fault today. There are nights we need the power play, but today they gave us everything they had. Unfortunately it didn’t go it.
On going 6/6 on the penalty kill
We worked on it for the last few days and the guys did a good job. Today we didn’t talk about special teams and we talked about five-on-five, but we made mistakes and the guys were very tight again. It started in the second period for no reason and it was hard to watch.
On the tight race in the Pacific Division
I feel like our division is much better compared to last year. Every other team got better. You can see it in the standings. There are no weak teams anymore and that’s why every point is important. The good thing is that we got a point today, but we just have to figure out how to play better.
Joe Hicketts
On tonight’s game
I felt like in the first we were connected. We were together and fine with the puck. We were supporting each other and were generating chances. Obviously, we hit a couple of posts there in the first. That would’ve been nice to capitalize on. We started taking penalties in the second and we kind of got away from that connected style of play that led us to success. I think its just a learning opportunity for us. We’re in a bit of a slide here and if we learn that we’ve got to keep our nose down and keep doing the same thing, it’s going to work out in the long run. I think a game like that is a step in the right direction, holding them to only one goal, but it’d be nice to win that one-to-nothing. It’s hockey. There are bounces. We got a bounce on our goal and they got a bounce on their goal.
On getting his game back after three months out
Yeah, it’s coming. I knew coming back was going to be like hopping on a train going 45 miles an hour there. I had to run onto it. I knew it was going to take three or four games. I felt it’s been better every game. Obviously, last weekend playing the back-to-back kind of takes a bite out of you in the second game, but today felt good. I thought reads were a little cleaner and crisper. I’m just getting back into the flow of it and back into practice, perfecting those little details that it takes going forward.
On the penalty kill effort
We started out a little more aggressive. I think we sat back a little bit at the end and even on the four-on-four. There goalie was pulled so we had to play it like a penalty kill. Special teams is important at all times in the year but this is kind of a stretch run. This is a push for the playoffs and special teams are usually what win games in the playoffs, and we’ve got to get that playoff mindset now. We’ve maybe taken ourselves out of contention for first slot now, but we’re in a race just to stay alive and stay in it. I know we didn’t score on the power play but we did generate a lot of chances and at some point they’re going to go in. We’ve got enough good players on the ice that will take care of business.
Ontario resumes their schedule at Toyota Arena on Friday night when they host the Coachella Valley Firebirds at 7 p.m.
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