The Ontario Reign wrapped up their home-and-home weekend series with Henderson — as well as the 2022-23 AHL regular season — with a loss to the Henderson Silver Knights.
Coming out on the wrong end of a 4-1 contest certainly was not the way Ontario wanted to finish things off heading into postseason play. They claimed just four wins in their final 20 games this season. Even so, they’ll get a clean slate entering the playoffs, despite not having any momentum due to dropping both games of this weekend’s back-to-back set.
Coach Marco Sturm saw his group get off to a slow start on Saturday, as Henderson took advantage of an early defensive miscue by the Reign and scored on a breakaway opportunity just 15 seconds after the puck dropped. However, Ontario was able to regroup and get better as the period moved along, despite not finding the back of the net before intermission. Perhaps of more concern at the moment was seeing Tyler Madden leave the ice early after blocking a shot. Fortunately, he did return to action after the intermisison break.
In that second stanza, Lias Andersson thought he had tied the game, only to have it ruled no goal after a lengthy review. Just seconds after play resumed, Andersson deflected a shot by Jordan Spence into the back of the net for a quick power play goal. Five minutes later, though, the Silver Knights regained their lead; providing a one goal cushion heading into the final frame.
Similar to Friday night’s loss, the third period was not kind to the Reign. Before the game-ending buzzer rang, the Silver Knights added a pair of goals to close it out by a score of 4-1.
Reign goaltender Matt Villalta made 27 saves on 31 shots in Saturday’s loss.
Ontario Reign opponent set, they'll face the Colorado Eagles in Round 1 of the Calder Cup Playoffs.
It will be a best-of-three series, with all games played in Colorado (that's the way the AHL is doing it this year)
Game 1 – April 19
Game 2 – April 21
Game 3 – April 23 pic.twitter.com/hTI2JlHf0p— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) April 16, 2023
Next up, Ontario will face Colorado in a best-of-three series in Round One of the Calder Cup Playoffs.
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Ontario Reign Projected Lineup at Henderson Silver Knights; Regular Season Finale
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