Overview
- Friday's 5-3 win in Cedar Park was decided when Martin Chromiak broke a 3-3 tie late and added an empty-net goal while Erik Portillo made 20 saves to earn the victory.
- Saturday's 5-2 loss reversed the series outcome as Ontario went 0-for-7 on the power play, with Lane Pederson scoring both Reign goals and Cole Guttman recording two assists.
- Special teams swung the weekend: Ontario was 1-for-4 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill in the first game, then 0-for-7 and 4-for-4 on the kill in the second.
- Coach Andrew Lord's goalie rotation produced different results with Portillo effective when started and Hampton Slukynsky struggling to find a win, which raises short-term decisions about workload and starts.
- The split leaves Ontario 5-3-0-0, highlights rising prospects such as Chromiak, Guttman, Ziemmer and Kirsanov, and sends the club on to a road stop in Henderson on Oct. 28.