With the AHL returning to action following the league’s annual holiday break, it likely didn’t feel like much time off for players and coaches, as they’ve actually had longer breaks during the season itself. Regardless, it gave most people an opportunity for a quick trip home to spend a few days with family and friends. Everybody was back to work on Thursday for practice and Friday will bring the first of back-to-back road games this weekend.
Kicking things off will be a contest in San Diego, where the Reign have already played twice over the past six weeks. Ontario won both contests by a scores of 4-1 and 2-1. Goaltender Erik Portillo earned the victories in net each of those nights and he factors into one of the pregame decisions coach Marco Sturm will need to make tonight.
“The first game of a back-to-back, for me, it’s always the crucial one,” Ontario’s bench boss recently remarked. “You want to win it, and you don’t want to go into tomorrow a little bit upset and hoping for a big night.”
With that said, how will he start things out this time around? Coachella is the better of the two teams, holding a .536 to .332 points percentage when compared to San Diego. So, will he want to challenge Portillo on Saturday or stick with a more traditional rotation and give him the start on Friday?
There is plenty of other news surrounding the remainder of the Reign roster, as well.
Although Andre Lee was assigned to Ontario before the break, he is expected to be recalled to the NHL on Friday in time to practice with the Kings (who will be preparing for their own back-to-back games this weekend). That takes him out of Sturm’s equation.
Charles Hudon is off with Team Canada at the Spengler Cup — an annual tradition in Europe that is often overshadowed by the World Junior Championships. Thus, his spot on Sturm’s top line needs to be filled. This creates the perfect opportunity for Arthur Kaliyev, who will be skating in his final game with the Reign. Originally assigned to the Reign for a three-game conditioning assignment, that was extended by two games last weekend.
The 23-year-old winger is coming off perhaps his most active game of the four played thus far. He generated four shots on goal and appeared to get more ice time than previous contests. Even more impressive is that it was the back-half of consecutive games against Coachella, with the two teams playing a home-and-home series just before the holiday break.
With rookie Aatu Jamsen still sidelined, the Reign recalled fellow rookie Kaleb Lawrence from ECHL Greenville on Thursday. He’s had an interesting first few months to his pro career. In seven games with Ontario earlier this season, the 6-foot-7 forward posted four points (3G, 1A). Then, during his assignment to Greenville, he produced six points (2G, 4A) in eight games. Lawrence is expected to center what should be a heavy fourth line tonight.
REIGN PROJECTED LINEUP vs. GULLS
If there are any key changes during pregame warm-ups, this article will be updated.
Kaliyev – Gawdin – Malott
Madden – Studnicka – Fagemo
Chromiak – Pinelli – Ward
Element – Lawrence – Doty
Hicketts – Millar
Jones – Walsh
Booth – Rowe
Portillo (starter)
Copley
Other roster options include: (F) Jamsen (D) Krygier, Parker-Jones
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm Pacific Time and the game can be viewed on FloHockey. An audio only feed is also available on the ESPN LA app.
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