Pinelli, Reign dominate Canucks in 5-2 defeat
· Yahoo Sports
ONTARIO, CA. -- Francesco Pinelli tallies two goals in the Ontario Reign 5-2 win against the Abbotsford Canucks.
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It’s been 10 days since the Reign were last on home ice and last weekend Ontario played two games in Abbotsford.
The Reign went 1-1 with a 2-1 loss and a 3-0 win against the Canucks Nov. 6 and Nov. 7.
And tonight - finally - it felt like the Reign had advantage on home ice, a small improvement as they are now 2-4-1-0 in Ontario.
Abbotsford currently holds second place in the AHL Pacific Division with a 9-4-0-2 record and 20 points.
And yet Ontario has allowed only four goals in the past three games against the Canucks.
“I think we defended really well,” Ontario coach Andrew Lord said. “Didn’t give up much off the rush, which they’re (Abbotsford) lethal in. I thought our box outs were good tonight, we blocked some shots and obviously (Carter) George’s last game was great. And (Erik Portillo) was really good here tonight.”
Portillo finished with 23 saves and Abbotsford goalie Nikita Tolopilo ended with 25 saves on 30 shots.
Following a hooking penalty by Henry Brzustewicz, the Reign had their first penalty kill of the night in which Pinelli scored a shorthanded goal; setting the tone for the rest of the game.
But the Canucks wouldn’t let their power play opportunity pass them by.
Kirill Kudryavtsev and Braeden Cootes assisted Chase Wouters in his game-tying power-play goal.
Tonight Martin Chromiak rejoined the Reign for the first time since he made his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 31, playing two games during his time with the Kings.
But Chromiak didn’t miss a beat as he earned two points in Saturday night’s win.
Jack Hughes and Chromiak assisted Lane Pederson’s goal, handing the lead back to Ontario.
After back-to-back penalties by Abbotsford - Cole Clayton for interference and Kole Lind for tripping - Chromiak gained his second point of the night with a power-play shot into the net.
Pederson and Cole Guttman helped Chromiak extend the lead by two.
Pinelli’s second goal of the night came 1:04 into the final period with assists from Kenny Connors and Kirill Kirsanov.
Connors was also back with Ontario after having played three games with the Kings, earning his first NHL assist on Nov. 4 against the San Jose Sharks.
Lord said having Connors and Chromiak back made it feel like their team again as they provide depth and balance.
“(Connors) is just Mr. Consistent,” Lord said. “He plays the right way, always gives it his all. And then (Chromiak) is a real dynamic, offensively gifted player. I thought they both looked good and I don’t think there was any sort of hangover from being up in the NHL, which can happen at times. It’s tough when you go under that spotlight, that excitement, and then a few days later you’re back here. Which maybe isn’t necessarily as exciting.”
Guttman scored with assists from Angus Booth and Kirsanov and Lind added on a goal for Abbotsford with a minute remaining in the game.
Ontario went 1-for-7 on the power play and 2-for-4 on the penalty kill.
The Reign remain in eighth place in the AHL Pacific Division with a 7-7-1-0 record and 15 points.
Up next:
Ontario hosts the Colorado Eagles (8-6-1-1; 18 points, 4th place in AHL Pacific Division) Sunday evening at 5 p.m.