The Ontario Reign survived a late scare from the Bakersfield Condors, but hung on for a 3-2 victory to start the home-and-home series.
Round of applause 👏 #ReignTrain I #BAKvsONT pic.twitter.com/iedvQMwEMm
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 22, 2025
Goal Breakdown
First period:
ONT: Taylor Ward (8), ASST: Akil Thomas (9), Martin Chromiak (5)
ONT: Kenny Connors (4), ASST: Andre Lee (7)
Second period:
ONT: Jared Wright (4), ASST: Andre Lee (8), Kenny Connors (7)
Third period:
BAK: Viljami Marjala (3), ASST: Mason Millman (2), Isaac Howard (3)
BAK: PP Quinn Hutson (8), ASST: Isaac Howard (4), Viljami Marjala (13)
Stats
Goals:
BAK: 2
ONT: 3
Shots:
BAK: 17
ONT: 24
Power plays:
BAK: 1/4
ONT: 0/7
Here are the three takeaways from last night’s 3-2 victory:
A lesson learned
The Reign had a comfortable lead heading into the final three minutes…until it wasn’t. Bakersfield got on the board with 2:30 left to play on a Viljami Marjala redirction in the slot. Taylor Ward, Andre Lee, and Mason Millman all took roughing penalties immediately after the goal, resulting in a Condors power play.
Put us on the board#Condorstown | #57 Viljami Marjala pic.twitter.com/mp3fJonMtv
— Bakersfield Condors (@Condors) November 22, 2025
52 seconds later and Quinn Hutson pulled Bakersfield within one with the goalie pulled with a slot shot. Ontario was able to hang on, but it was a lesson learned that any slip-up in the AHL or NHL, the game can turn in the blink of an eye.
Quinn to keep the score within one#Condorstown | #23 Quinn Hutson pic.twitter.com/wiCRzCMnES
— Bakersfield Condors (@Condors) November 22, 2025
Power play struggles continue
The Reign went 3-for-5 on the power play in their last game against the San Jose Barracuda, but their struggles on the man advantage returned last night. Ontario had seven power plays in the game and came away empty-handed all seven times.
Given how the game ended, those power plays almost turned out to be crucial missed opportunities. The Reign’s power play ranks 20th in the AHL at 17.4% and is 6-for-39 (15.4%) in their last 39 attempts. They need to turn it around at some point.
Connors & Wright continue to impress
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: a pair of 2022 Kings draft picks had a good game, and those two players were Kenny Connors and Jared Wright.
Wright is known for his speed and forecheck persistence, and his speed was on display for his goal last night. Wright’s fourth goal of the season came on a breakaway attempt where Andre Lee saw him zoom by a Bakersfield defender in the middle, fed him the puck, and Wright placed a perfect shot by the glove of Connor Ingram. The goal by Wright turned out to be the game-winning tally.
Wright place, wright time.#ReignTrain I #BAKvsONT pic.twitter.com/AP6av5bLbO
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 22, 2025
As for Connors, his stock continues to rise. Connors, like Wright, found the scoresheet with a goal in the first period by going to the front of the net and putting home a rebound on a rush attempt. He also added a tally on Wright’s goal and topped it off with a fight early in the third period to complete the Gordie Howe hat trick.
Ken he do it? YES, HE KEN!#ReignTrain I #BAKvsONT pic.twitter.com/FKnK0CiAFW
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 22, 2025
In addition to his Gordie Howe hat trick, Connors was also a +2 rating. In 16 games at 5v5, he has been on the ice for 13 goals for three against. He’s been a steady two-way third-line center for the Reign.
Both players recorded their first professional fight. Wright was named the game’s second star, and Connors was the first star.
NOTES:
*The Reign scored in the first period for only the second time in eight games.
*Kenny Connors, Jared Wright, and Koehn Ziemmer all recorded their first professional fights in the third period.
FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!#Condorstown pic.twitter.com/3HSVLpSkhi
— Bakersfield Condors (@Condors) November 22, 2025
*Wright and Connors seemed to have gained the trust of the coaching staff by being paired together on the penalty kill.
*Andre Lee posted a multi-point game for the second straight game with his two assists.
*Kenta Isogai made his Reign debut, playing on the fourth line with Ziemmer and Jack Hughes.
*Both Francesco Pinelli and Erik Portillo missed last night’s game due to injury.
*Pheonix Copley stopped 15 of 17 shots for his third win of the season.
Cops Center Stage!!!!#ReignTrain I #BAKvsONT pic.twitter.com/IK0B0Rc64l
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 22, 2025
*Taylor Ward recorded his team-leading eighth goal to open the scoring.
Wardo with a Tony award winning worthy performance 🏆#ReignTrain I #BAKvsONT pic.twitter.com/jykkyHsM2O
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 22, 2025
*Akil Thomas extended his team-leading point total to 13 with his assist on Ward’s goal.
*Ontario is 8-0-1-0 when leading after two periods.
UP NEXT: The Ontario Reign and Bakersfield Condors meet again tonight, but this time in Bakersfield. The puck drops shortly at 7 PM PST and can be seen on FloHockey. You can also listen to the game on the Ontario Reign radio network or the ESPN LA app.
Featured image credit: Christopher Mora/Ontario Reign
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