Another disastrous game for Lintuniemi, Brickley, Roy and MacDermid. Besides Walker this season on D, only Clague is showing signs of responsible play, and seems to improve game to game. Clague has 6 points in 8 games and is even for the season, an accomplishment considering the Reign's porous defense.
I've never been a Lintuniemi fan, but I had to give him kudos for definitely improvement in his game last year. However, I'm not sure how he could be any worse this season so far, his game, along with Roy's, have regressed so far from last season it is but a faded memory. Roy is -7 through 8 games, and while Lintuniemi is putting up points, his defense and careless play with the puck has been atrocious. He was minus 4 tonight. Brickley is a whopping -10 through 7 games, including a healthy scratch last game. Certainly I would think Strand at least deserves a look after what the Reign has displayed so far this year. It's just bad overall team defense, and not so good goaltending either.
On the bright side, Matt Luff looks much more comfortable this season and has 9 pts in 7 games, including 4 goals and is +2. These are the kind of numbers we needed to see from him in his 2nd pro season to get a look at the next level. Rempal did not look good tonight upon his return from the Kings, but was lights out prior to his call up. Eyssimont has looked decent and has 6 points in 8 games and is even but I don't see the NHL close at this point. No other prospects have a prayer at the AHL level.
Moulson and Sutter have been solid pros as usual, particularly Sutter who is playing well at both sides of the ice.
Petersen's confidence seems shaken if not obliterated, and Budaj is also a mess. Reign were shorthanded 8 more times tonight and last I looked led the league in PIM's.