Quinton Byfield paved the way to victory for the Reign on Sunday evening, as he collected a hat trick in Ontario’s 5-2 win over the visiting Bakersfield Condors.
LA’s top draft selection from 2020 was once again the best player on the ice, displaying confidence with the puck, using his size to create offensive opportunities, and capitalizing on his scoring chances. The 20-year-old Center has three multi-point games in his last five outings, accumulating eight points over that time span.
Right off the hop, Byfield put the Reign in front, just 31 seconds into the opening frame. Lias Andersson collected a loose puck, then made a backhand pass from behind the net that had the Condor netminder moving in the wrong direction, leaving Byfield an easy tap in goal.
The Canadian native notched his second goal of the game on a breakaway, where he fired it into the top left corner of the net. This play was set up by Tyler Madden, who found Byfield scorching through the neutral zone.
Moments later, the Reign killed off the entirety of a 5-on-3, but would later return to the box. During that shorthanded time, Rasmus Kupari used his speed and acceleration to get a breakaway, where he drew a penalty shot. Kupari made the most of it too — going forehand, backhand to open the netminder’s five-hole, where he scored.
In the final frame, Bakersfield managed to beat goalie Cal Petersen for the first time; however, less than 30 seconds later, after an offensive zone faceoff won by Samuel Helenius, defenseman Frederic Allard blasted home his first goal of the year. Bakersfield struck on the power play to cut the Ontario lead in half. But 4-2 was as close as the Condors would get, as Byfield tucked his third of the game on an empty netter to complete his hat trick and seal the game.
Overall, Peterson recorded 27 saves for the second straight game. He looked extremely comfortable in net and was tracking pucks well. It was his second victory of the weekend.
Ontario was unable to score a power play goal on four chances. Yet, they managed to kill off five of six Bakersfield power plays, and even scored their first shorthanded goals of the season.
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Ontario Reign Projected Lineup vs. Bakersfield Condors; Plus Latest on Turcotte
Lead photo via ALo Images
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