
For the first time in his career, Arthur Kaliyev played an AHL game at Toyota Arena on Sunday night. Although he skated with the Reign for 40 games during the 2020-21 season, all of Ontario’s home matchups that year were played at Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo without any fans present.
After sustaining a broken collar bone early in training camp this past September, the 23-year-old forward is now working his way back into game shape, hopeful of getting his NHL career back on track.
Sporting one of Ontario’s specialty jerseys — and wearing No. 44, rather than his familiar 34 — Kaliyev took to the ice Sunday for what is expected to be a brief conditioning assignment wth the Reign before he ultimately rejoins the Kings.
When all was said and done following a 5-4 victory over the visiting San Jose Barracuda, he had a huge smile on his face that just wouldn’t go away. While the stats line will show things like one assist, two shots, and a goal in the shootout, nothing can measure what was going through Kaliyev’s mind for the previous few hours.
“I felt like I hadn’t played hockey in forever,” he quipped. “I don’t even remember the last time; it was probably March or April. It was really nice to get some playing time and get my conditioning back up. I got better as the game went on. At first, I felt like I was playing my first hockey game ever. Then, in the third period, my legs and everything else felt like I was in game shape.”
Indeed, he did get better as the game wore on. After recording a shot on goal while playing a decent first period, he took an interference penalty in the middle frame before really driving offensive chances in the third, where he picked up an assist on a goal from Sammy Fagemo.
Coach Marco Sturm wasn’t surprised with how the early part of the night played itself out, even agreeing that Kaliyev looked a bit nervous in the first period.
“He definitely was,” said Ontario’s bench boss. “Even last week in practice, he was a little tight too. Then [again] before the game. It took him a little bit, but right away he had some really good chances. Overall, I think he did OK. He can be a lot better, but it’s not easy. He missed the whole training camp and the whole season so far. So, I’m glad this one is done. He also scored a big goal in the shootout, so it was nice to have him.”
After seeing his young forward start to crank it up in the third period, is that what gave Sturm the idea to use Kaliyev in the shootout?
“You know what, because I know him, I would have used him in the shootout anyway,” Sturm shared. “My thought in the three-on-three [overtime], I was not sure because it’s been a long time. But he had a better third period. And that’s why I put him out there in OT, as well.”
As for the shootout opportunity itself, Kaliyev didn’t have much time to prepare because Sturm called his number first to kick things off.
“I was just going out to try and score,” Kaliyev said rather matter of factly. “I was trying to get a good look at how the goalie might [read] me and then quickly in my mind see what I wanted to do.”
Well, he went backhand and it worked just fine.
#ICYMI: Arthur Kaliyev and Taylor Ward score in the shootout to lift the @OntarioReign to victory. pic.twitter.com/TS51C7m89G
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) December 16, 2024
Apparently, Kings coach Jim Hiller or GM Rob Blake didn’t give him a specific list of instructions prior to the conditioning assignment.
“Nothing really, no pressure,” said Kaliyev. “Just [things like] ‘play your game’ and ‘get into game shape.’ Again, I haven’t played any hockey this year; so, most importantly, just get my game back.”.
With the first of what should be four AHL games played this week now in the books, ending night one with a goal was a pretty good start.
“I haven’t scored in a while because I haven’t played any games,” Kaliyev noted, when talking about what that should do for his confidence. “Hopefully, over the next few games I keep going with all the areas of my game – [including] D-Zone, get those battles back, and get that fuel back.”
More than anything, it was just good to see him smiling again.
“I know, it’s been tough times,” Kaliyev added. “It’s been better [lately], being around the guys finally, and playing some hockey.”
Game 2 is coming up Wednesday night in Ontario before the Reign play a home-and-home series with Coachella on Friday and Saturday.
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