Ontario Reign Roll Past Abbotsford with 5-2 Win, Extend Home Win Streak to Six
The Ontario Reign are heating up at just the right time. With a 5-2 victory over the Abbotsford Canucks in front of 5,810 fans at Toyota Arena, the Reign extended their home win streak to six games and capped off a dominant January with a 10-2-0 record. This one wasn’t just a win-it was a showcase of depth, timing, and execution from a team that’s starting to look like a real problem for the rest of the AHL.
Early Momentum Sets the Tone
It didn’t take long for Ontario to make their presence known. Just 3:42 into the first period, Andre Lee opened the scoring with his team-leading 17th goal of the season.
The play started with Glenn Gawdin holding the puck in at the blue line, feeding Martin Chromiak, who fired a quick wrister toward the net. Lee, parked in front, got just enough of his stick on it to redirect the puck past Jiří Patera.
It was a gritty, net-front goal-the kind that sets the tone early.
Abbotsford answered later in the period, with Lukas Reichel tying the game on a clean wrist shot from the high slot that beat Erik Portillo glove side. That was all the Canucks could muster in the opening frame, though, as Ontario killed off the only penalty of the period and kept things even heading into the second.
Second Period Surge
The second period was where the Reign took control-and never looked back.
Just over two minutes in, Jared Wright gave Ontario a 2-1 lead with his 10th of the season. The play developed off a slick breakout: Aatu Jämsen started it with a feed from the left wing in the defensive zone, hitting Tim Rego in stride through the neutral zone. Rego carried it into the offensive end on a 2-on-1 and slid the puck across to Wright, who buried a low wrister from the right circle.
Midway through the period, Ontario got a four-minute power play opportunity, but it was quickly cut in half when Gawdin took a tripping penalty just six seconds in. No matter-once Gawdin was out of the box, he made up for it in a big way. With just under two minutes left on the man advantage, he finished off a crisp passing sequence from Cole Guttman and Nikita Alexandrov, blasting a one-timer from the high slot past Patera to make it 3-1.
Then came the highlight of the night. With two minutes left in the second, Aatu Jämsen put the exclamation point on the period.
Starting from his own blue line, Jämsen picked up speed down the right wing, slipped past a defender with a slick cut through the circle, and tucked the puck past Patera on the far side. It was the kind of goal that turns heads-and gives fans a glimpse of just how dynamic the young winger can be.
Pinelli Adds Insurance, Portillo Stays Hot
Francesco Pinelli wasted no time adding to the lead in the third, scoring just over two minutes in to make it 5-1. Wright, already with a goal of his own, set up the play by finding Pinelli in the left circle. From there, Pinelli went top shelf with a wrist shot that beat Patera cleanly.
Abbotsford managed to get one back later in the period, with Vilmer Alriksson cleaning up a rebound at 8:07, but it was too little, too late.
In net, Erik Portillo was solid once again, stopping 21 of 23 shots. Since returning from injury, he’s been lights out-this win marked his sixth straight and his 10th consecutive decision overall. The confidence is clearly back, and it’s showing in his poise between the pipes.
Special Teams Clicking
Ontario’s special teams continued to deliver. They went 1-for-2 on the power play, marking the sixth straight home game with a power-play goal and the 11th in their last 13 overall.
On the penalty kill, they were a perfect 3-for-3, and they’ve now allowed just one power-play goal in their last seven home games (21-for-22). Over their last 15 games, they’ve killed 43 of 47 penalties-a stretch of disciplined, structured play that’s making a real difference.
Postgame Reactions
Head coach Andrew Lord liked what he saw-especially the timing of the goals.
“We’ll take it. Really timely scoring,” Lord said.
“Andre Lee, four minutes in. Wright, two minutes into the second.
That was a huge goal. I thought they had a couple chances to start the second and that one really got us going.
Then one more there-Pinelli two minutes into the third. Those are big goals.”
Lord also credited the home crowd and the comfort level his team feels at Toyota Arena.
“It’s a great rink. I think it’s a great environment.
The guys feel the energy. You can tell-they love playing in this building.”
Jared Wright, who chipped in a goal and an assist, spoke about the team’s chemistry and the grind of the schedule.
“It’s just a ton of fun, with the group of guys we have-so many different personalities,” Wright said. “It seems like every game, someone steps up. Whether it’s guys getting called up or just filling in, everyone’s stepping up in big moments.”
He also credited team veterans like Andre Lee, Martin Chromiak, and Joe Hicketts for setting the standard.
“They’ve been pros for a while now. I’m just trying to follow their lead, take care of my body, and stay ready.”
Tim Rego, who logged an assist and helped spark the rush on Wright’s goal, talked about his transition to the pro game.
“That was a big part of my game in college-jumping into the play,” Rego said. “Now we’re working on the defensive side. Once I get that covered, I have the freedom to jump up.”
As for his first year in the pros?
“It’s a great learning experience. You just stay where your feet are and take on every day.”
Looking Ahead
The Reign will hit the road this Saturday to face the San Diego Gulls at 6 p.m. PST. With momentum on their side and their depth firing on all cylinders, Ontario looks like a team that’s not just winning games-they’re building something bigger.