Ontario Reign 21-22 : I'm only happy when it Reigns

[Eagle Fang]

Well that was disappointing. Could've been different with Durzi especially on that 5 on 3 PP.

Spence was probably ONT's best player.

 

[King'sPawn]

Wolf was someone I hoped the Kings would have drafted. His insane WHL numbers weren't just propped up by being on the defensive Everett.

Steal for a 7th round pick.

 

[OvermanKingGainer]

You guys are probably the only fanbase that actually watches their farm team, so I came here just to get some thoughts, assuming you guys watched the game(s) vs Stockton.

- How was Matthew Phillips? He's a guy I want promoted to the NHL but I know it's tough for him at that height
- Does our Mitch Love seem to be coaching the team well, or is he just purely riding his goalie?
- Did anyone else catch your eyes on the other team?

 

[King'sPawn]

You guys are probably the only fanbase that actually watches their farm team, so I came here just to get some thoughts, assuming you guys watched the game(s) vs Stockton.

- How was Matthew Phillips? He's a guy I want promoted to the NHL but I know it's tough for him at that height
- Does our Mitch Love seem to be coaching the team well, or is he just purely riding his goalie?
- Did anyone else catch your eyes on the other team?

I had it on in the background while working so I missed it.

Pretty sure he was the better Phillips on the ice, though!

Wolf was the biggest standout to me

 

[Eagle Fang]

You guys are probably the only fanbase that actually watches their farm team, so I came here just to get some thoughts, assuming you guys watched the game(s) vs Stockton.

- How was Matthew Phillips? He's a guy I want promoted to the NHL but I know it's tough for him at that height
- Does our Mitch Love seem to be coaching the team well, or is he just purely riding his goalie?
- Did anyone else catch your eyes on the other team?

Phillips was one of Stockton's more noticeable players but overall no one really stood out except for Dustin Wolf. That kind of lends to your next question as they seem to be a well coached team; 'if everyone is good, no one has to be great' sort of thing.

It was a pretty evenly played game with a slight advantage to Ontario. The difference was specialty teams and goaltending.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

You guys are probably the only fanbase that actually watches their farm team, so I came here just to get some thoughts, assuming you guys watched the game(s) vs Stockton.

- How was Matthew Phillips? He's a guy I want promoted to the NHL but I know it's tough for him at that height
- Does our Mitch Love seem to be coaching the team well, or is he just purely riding his goalie?
- Did anyone else catch your eyes on the other team?

Phillips was noticable for sure, him and Turcotte were in each other's grills all game

They are VERY well coached but around the goalie, really locked it down towards the end. Very systematic team, vs. Ontario who is pretty freewheeling at times.

Probably nothing profound but Ruzicka and Pelletier were the most noticeable for me, they were everywhere, and great two way. Were very hard to handle especially as a pair. Out there helping lock it down at the end too. I heard Zary's name a lot too but it wasn't around the action really, he wasn't 'in it' the same way the above three were that's for sure.

 

[Eagle Fang]

Madden with the rebound goal. Surprised Stockton isn't starting Wolf.

Less than a minute later, Stockton scores. Villalta sucks, Wagner sucks.

And Stockton scores again... the f*** is Villalta even in the org...

 

[Eagle Fang]

f***ing tyler madden with his second! Speed, skill, profit.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[ru4reals]

Madden with the rebound goal. Surprised Stockton isn't starting Wolf.

Less than a minute later, Stockton scores. Villalta sucks, Wagner sucks.

And Stockton scores again... the f*** is Villalta even in the org...

Welcome to my world from last season. Looks like Villalta is having one of his specials. Brutal.

 

[Eagle Fang]

Welcome to my world from last season. Looks like Villalta is having one of his specials. Brutal.

To his credit, he did make a big save on a partial breakaway but every shot Stockton takes is nervous time.

Nvm f*** that. Villalta is just a steaming dung pile. 3 goals on 8 shots.

 

[Sam]

Welcome to my world from last season. Looks like Villalta is having one of his specials. Brutal.

Don't care for Villalta but I thought both goals were good tips. Goal 1 was a result of Wagner turning the puck over and goal 2 came from Spence losing a battle in front of the net.

 

[ru4reals]

Don't care for Villalta but I thought both goals were good tips. Goal 1 was a result of Wagner turning the puck over and goal 2 came from Spence losing a battle in front of the net.

Yes Villalta does make some great saves from time to time but then gives up some of the most frustrating goals. But it is what it is.

 

[apocalypse]

How has Vilardi been playing?

 

[Eagle Fang]

How has Vilardi been playing?

Mostly invisible

 

[Gjwrams]

The Reign are so much more exciting to watch than the Kings unfortunately

 

[Eagle Fang]

The Reign are so much more exciting to watch than the Kings unfortunately

Yup and for me it's because they play the game with something the big club doesn't...

Emotion

The Tuscon games alone were more entertaining than any LA game in the past 3 years.

 

[bland]

So Vilardi has been on the ice for all three goals against. How is he looking tonight?

 

[Eagle Fang]

Sutter ties it, nice! And Strand gives them the lead!

Tkachev scores off the wrister! who says he doesn't shoot!

Werner going full Villalta in the 3rd.

 

[apocalypse]

Mostly invisible

It's gonna take some time.

 

[Eagle Fang]

Great win for ONT. Game was physical and tight checking. Sloppy goaltending at times by both teams but Werner outslopped Villalta.

Villalta was shaky af but to his credit settled down as the game went along.

Madden with 2g. Showed nice speed and skill early but kind of disappeared as the game went on.

Turcotte had some nice plays and got his nose dirty a few times again. Overall though not much offense generated. Still think he needs to get stronger before he hits the NHL.

Durzi with 3a. Should've played in one of the games, LA or ONT, yesterday.

Fagemo, mostly invisible.

JAD, mostly invisible.

Vilardi was mostly invisible. Also he looks really slow

Dudas had a pretty good game. Kind of plays like Lizotte except he doesn't get smashed as often.

Grans has a nice overall game

Moverare had a rough game.

 

[King'sPawn]

So Vilardi has been on the ice for all three goals against. How is he looking tonight?

He looked just okay. Definitely sluggish relative to everyone else. But he plays very similarly to a young Kopitar: knowing his options before the puck gets to him so he can quickly redistribute it. It's an adjustment to play wing - he definitely doesn't look like he's "too good" for the AHL. But he exemplified what I like most about him - he processes/thinks fast, which trumps skating fast.

Villalta is definitely a weak link on the team. All of the goals were tipped/high danger chances. So, it's not that he was the cause, but these are things that need improvement:
- lateral movement. Shortly before the first goal against, he was still up against the wrong post when the opposition was halfway in the middle of a wraparound.
- playing too deep. He gives too much net and relies on reflexes, like Lundqvist. Coming out to challenge more, he may have mitigated the dangers leading to the goals
- lack of command. Similar to playing too deep, he doesn't demand the crease or battle with opponents around him. I don't expect a nut shot, but shove someone.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Durzi was the standout really, HM to Spence/Grans. I don't think he does it to the same degree at the NHL level but he shows out as a high-end OFD for sure. 7 points in last 2 AHL games is a big middle finger to the Kings for the other day.

Forwards had moments but as a whole, much like yesterday, were facing a really tight checking team so no one really stood out for a whole game as they often do in the AHL. None of the Stockton folks really stood out except Ruzicka early, then he faded into the crowd like Madden did. Was a team or 'system' game all around.

First three goals against were pretty ugly, just sloppy from everyone on the rink, but also unfortunately typical Villalta.

I wouldn't agree Vilardi was totally invisible, I would argue him and Turcotte make the same sort of small 'unsexy' plays where you can still tell they're on a higher level than anyone else between their vision and their hands, but neither jumped out tonight in a big way (other than Turcotte's growing attitude problem with the opposition ). Him and Frk certainly look unripe in the box score tonight though. But less due to systematic problem than the whole team letting down after they scored early.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

He looked just okay. Definitely sluggish relative to everyone else. But he plays very similarly to a young Kopitar: knowing his options before the puck gets to him so he can quickly redistribute it. It's an adjustment to play wing - he definitely doesn't look like he's "too good" for the AHL. But he exemplified what I like most about him - he processes/thinks fast, which trumps skating fast.

Villalta is definitely a weak link on the team. All of the goals were tipped/high danger chances. So, it's not that he was the cause, but these are things that need improvement:
- lateral movement. Shortly before the first goal against, he was still up against the wrong post when the opposition was halfway in the middle of a wraparound.
- playing too deep. He gives too much net and relies on reflexes, like Lundqvist. Coming out to challenge more, he may have mitigated the dangers leading to the goals
- lack of command. Similar to playing too deep, he doesn't demand the crease or battle with opponents around him. I don't expect a nut shot, but shove someone.

I'd liken Villalta's game tonight to Petersen's the other night.

Probably not 'bad' goals but an unfortunate pattern of letting all possible 'goals' score if that makes sense and part of a larger pattern where people don't feel bad criticizing him because they've seen this movie before.

 

[Eagle Fang]

...Turcotte's growing attitude problem with the opposition ). Him and Frk certainly look unripe in the box score tonight though.

Turc's really upped the truculence the last two games and I don't think it's a coincidence it came vs Stockton. Similar to the WJCs, when the games are big, he comes to play. Didn't have as much of an offensive impact, but he got dirty for sure.