Six of eight games scheduled in this year’s season series between the Reign and Wranglers have now been completed, with each side earning three victories. If there was a winner to be declared thus far, it would go to Ontario, as one of the six games was decided via a shootout, so they’ve actually earned one additional point than their division rivals from Calgary.
Monday’s matchup provides the last game coach Marco Sturm’s team will play in Canada during the regular season. It also is the bookend of their back-to-back set, coming off a 5-1 win over that Wranglers on Sunday that featured Sammy Fagemo’s third hat trick in his last 17 games.
With 21 goals total over that stretch, Fagemo has been the very definition of red hot. He’s also knocking at the door of another call-up to the NHL.
Caution: Contents red hot.
: Reign’s Fagemo named AHL Player of the Week@ontarioreign | @LAKings | @hockeytape pic.twitter.com/bOFup37JnI
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) March 11, 2024
Equally impressive has been the play of rookie goalie Erik Portillo, who has helped backstop the Reign to points in seven straight games (5-0-2). Knowing the Reign are in the midst of a stretch that will have them playing five games in seven days, Sturm will likely want to give proper rest to his goaltending tandem.
In six starts since joining Ontario just after the new year, Dell has posted a 3-3-1 record with a .902 save percentage. If there was one thing that might tempt Sturm into sticking with Portillo for the second consecutive night it’s the fact Dell was 0-3 vs. Calgary last year (albeit, while playing in San Jose). Dell gave up five goals in one of those contests, and four in another game. Before the Wranglers relocated to Calgary, Dell went 5-1 against the then Stockton Heat back in 2015-16; something at this point that probably feels like a lifetime ago for the 35-year-old netminder.
Of more pressing concern is the availability of Kings prospect Akil Thomas.
During the second period of yesterday’s game, he received a blindside hit by Wranglers forward Clark Bishop (who was assessed a major penalty for kneeing). Thomas was in obvious pain and eventually made his way to the locker room. He later returned with a few minutes remaining in the middle frame and saw limited time in the final period of regulation. We’ve checked in with team sources today and it appears he is going to sit out tonight’s game. From what we’ve been able to gather, he’ll be fine long-term and this more of a short-term situation, where he will rest for another 24 hours and then be further evaluated. Thomas has not been ruled out for the entire trip at this point.
As for what that does to Sturm’s lineup, nothing is confirmed at this time; yet we’d expect Sammy Helenius and Franky Pinelli to take on bigger roles (as indicated below). The latter has scored three goals in his past five games, the largest offensive outburst he’s had this season. Pinelli has also shown remarkable discipline this year. The first-year pro has taken the second-fewest penalties (7) this season among all regular Reign forwards, sitting just one behind Tyler Madden (6).
With Thomas scratched, Sturm could also elect to go with an 11+7 configuration considering he has several healthy defensemen looking for playing time.
Either way, Brandt Clarke is expected to make his second straight start on the Reign blueline, while on assignment from the Kings. Hopefully this doesn’t happen again:
REIGN PROJECTED LINEUP vs. WRANGLERS
Chromiak – Tynan – Fagemo
Hudon – Helenius – Madden
Hodgson – Pinelli – Ward
Young – Pavlychev – Doty
Hicketts – Clarke
Connauton – Santini
Nousiainen – Rowe
Dell (starter)
Portillo
Other roster options include: (F) Thomas and (D) Inamoto, Krygier, Wylie
Injured: Lee (expected back late March)
Puck drop is scheduled for 6pm Pacific Time and the game can be viewed on AHL TV.
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