The Alaska Aces in 11 previous ECHL campaigns had never lost their first two home games at Sullivan Arena, never scored fewer than three goals combined in the first two home games and never been shut out in one of the first two home games.
They have now endured all three of those indignities.
Ontario's 4-0 conquest of the Aces on Saturday night followed the Reign's 3-1 victory in Friday's season opener.
Those double-barreled blows dampened the weekend celebrations of Alaska's considerable accomplishments last season, when it won the third ECHL Kelly Cup in franchise history. So, while the Aces dropped banners Friday and presented rings to returners Saturday -- each occasion cheered by adoring fans -- both nights ended on a decidedly somber note for the home club and its Cowbell Crew of fans.
If it's any consolation -- probably not -- Ontario looked wicked good. For starters, Reign second-year goaltender Joe Cannata shackled the Aces with 30 saves Friday and backed that up with 36 denials Saturday for his first pro bagel. Also, Ontario's first line of Tyler Spurgeon centering wingers Geoff Walker and Derek Couture have accounted for three goals in two games. Those guys have a combined 634 games of American Hockey League experience and ample scoring credentials.
The Aces get a series-closing crack at the Reign when the teams play a 3:05 p.m. matinee Sunday.
"I don't think we're that bad,'' said Aces coach Rob Murray. "They're just that good. We haven't been able to match it and, hopefully, we can (Sunday). That's as good a team as I've seen right off the hop in this league.''
Given that the Aces are an almost entirely retooled team from last season's championship crew, and also a very young group, it will fall to its leaders to keep spirits elevated. Veteran winger Brendan Connolly, a returner and alternate captain, is one of those stalwarts.
"There are always positives to take from any game,'' Connolly said. "Obviously, the glaring negatives are we're 0-2 and we've only scored one goal.
"You look at scoring chances -- we had 36 shots. I think we're disciplined. The power play needs work.
"It's just getting everybody to know there's got to be desperation, whether it's Game 1, Game 2 or Game 55. Every night you have to be desperate and you have to bring your best.''
Though the Aces surrendered a power-play goal less than two minutes into the game -- Walker punched home Spurgeon's rebound at the edge of the crease for the first of his two goals -- they trailed just 1-0 through one period.
But two Ontario goals in a 52-second span early in the second period stunned the Aces enough that Murray used his timeout when the deficit reached 3-0. Walker finished Spurgeon's 2-on-1 pass when Aces defenseman Brad Richard got caught stepping up on the play in neutral ice and Dylan Hood roofed a sharply angled shot over the shoulder of Aces goalie Andy Iles (24 saves).
"The second goal hurts, the third goal hurts even more because we haven't been scoring,'' Connolly said.
Connolly was one of the Aces frustrated by Cannata. He took Chris Francis' 2-on-1 pass on the left wing in the waning seconds of the second period and fired a wrister that Cannata calmly gloved for a whistle. All Connolly could do was bang his stick blade against the plexiglass.
"You can tell when a guy's in the zone -- I said that to (Francis) on that 2-on-1,'' Connolly said. "(Cannata) didn't even go all the way down to cover his five-hole. He just read my blade and made me look stupid.
"That's what happens when a guy's in a zone. You've got to tip your hat and say, 'Good job.' ''
Even so, Connolly said the Aces must go harder to the net and must create rebounds. Too many of their offensive forays, Murray said, were "one-and-dones.''
Aces rookie winger Olivier Archambault split Ontario's defense with a dynamic rush midway through the third period and blew in on Cannata, but the goalie used his blocker to rebuff the bid. Later, Cannata got his right pad on Archambault's shot from near the left post.
By then, the Reign had padded their lead to 4-0 when Tristan King furnished Maxim Kitsyn with a tap-in at the right post.
The Aces also went scoreless on four power-play chances for the second straight night.
"It's frustrating, and I know the guys are frustrated because we've had our opportunities and we haven't been able to cash in,'' Murray said.
Shuffling the deck
Veteran winger Justin Johnson is out of the lineup after reopening stitches on his left hand in a fight with Couture early in Friday's game.
Defenseman Quinn Sproule, the former Seawolf who scored his first pro goal Friday to account for Alaska's only goal in two games, was a scratch. Ditto for center Tim Coffman.
Rookie winger Justin Breton made his pro debut (minus-3, with two shots). Former Seawolves forward Tyler Currier, who also plays defense, made his Aces debut and played on the blue line (minus-1, one shot).
The only other time Alaska lost its first two games of the season came in 2004-05, when it dropped a pair at Idaho.
Presented with rings in a pregame ceremony were players Connolly, Richard, Corey Syvret and Ross Ring-Jarvi; Murray and assistant coach Louis Mass, equipment manager Mike Burkhead and athletic trainer Tyson Salley.
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockey-blog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr
Ontario 1 2 1 -- 4
Aces 0 0 0 -- 0
First Period – 1, Ontario, Walker 1 (Spurgeon, May), 1:52 (pp). Penalties – Francis, Aces (tripping), 1:28; Gorham, Aces (tripping), 8:56; Tesink, Aces (boarding), 15:52; Francis, Aces (hooking), 17:34; Walker, Ontario (interference), 18:13.
Second Period – 2, Ontario, Walker 2 (Spurgeon, Couture), 2:19; 3, Ontario, Hood 1 (Ezekiel), 4:12. Penalties – Kitsyn, Ontario (slashing), 8:58; Gorham, Aces (interference), 13:22.
Third Period – 4, Ontario, Kitsyn 2 (King, Bell), 14:55. Penalties – Kitsyn, Ontario (tripping), 1:35; Bell, Ontario (slashing), 5:30.
Shots on goal – Ontario 13-8-7—28. Aces 10-11-15—36.
Power-play Opportunities – Ontario 1 of 5. Aces 0 of 4.
Goalies – Ontario, Cannata, 2-0-0 (36 shots-36 saves). Aces, Iles, 0-1-0 (28-24).
A – 4,220 (6,399). T – 2:19.
Referee – Peter Tarnaris. Linesmen – Steve Glines, Chad Colliander.