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Like father, like son.
Much like their parent LA Kings, AHL Ontario enters the final two games of their 2023-24 regular season schedule having already qualified for the postseason… yet without any idea who they’ll be playing come playoff time.
Again, like the Kings, there are three potential opponents for the Reign at this point — it will be either the Abbotsford Canucks, Calgary Wranglers, or Bakersfield Condors. Part of the story here centers on the fact Ontario can still finish second or third in the Pacific Division. Meanwhile, any of the aforementioned trio can finish anywhere from fifth through seventh. So, bottom line, there’s a lot still in play entering the final weekend.
Coach Marco Sturm will send his club into action tonight at 6pm Pacific, then they’ll have to quickly regroup for a Sunday matinee at 2pm.
Forward Carl Grundstrom played the last few games for Sturm up on the top line. With his conditioning assignment now over, the LW spot he was occupying has opened up again. Will Martin Chromiak slide back up there? Well, there are some other considerations to weigh, as well.
Alex Turcotte usually plays 2C when with the Reign. Akil Thomas has had spot duty there, including Ontario’s last game played. With the former back with the team now, where does he go? And how does that impact the latter? What about other players, like Chromiak?
There wasn’t a full team skate prior to them leaving for Colorado, so it’s very difficult to project what the lineup will be on Saturday night. As such, we’ll offer two projections below: one that is our best guess, and one that would be our suggestion if Sturm calls to ask for input (which he won’t).
About the only good news in all of this is that the Reign are facing Colorado this weekend, and there isn’t a possibility of yet another Colorado-Ontario first round series. Sturm has a much deeper roster compared to when he took over as coach during the summer of 2022. However, three straight post-seasons of being eliminated by Colorado is likely enough. The Reign are perfectly happy opening the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs at home this coming Wednesday — and against anybody other than the Eagles.
REIGN PROJECTED LINEUP vs. EAGLES
Ward – Tynan – Fagemo
Madden – Thomas – Turcotte
Chromiak – Pinelli – Hodgson
Lee – Helenius – Doty
Hicketts – Clarke
Connauton – Santini
Nousiainen – Wylie
Portillo (starter)
Bednard
Other roster options include: (F) Francis, Pavlychev and (D) Krygier, Millar, Rowe
Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 pm Pacific Time and the game can be viewed on AHL TV.
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