For the final time this (regular) season, coach Marco Sturm has taken his Ontario Reign squad north of the border for a back-to-back set vs. the Calgary Wranglers. With the two clubs tied in the Pacific Division standings both in wins (29) and points (64), the results could have huge impacts on postseason positioning.
Then again, if recent history repeats itself, it could mean little at all. Ontario opened their season series with Calgary in November by splitting a pair of games at Toyota Arena. Then, in January, the Reign and Wranglers also split the rematch in Canada.
Of late, the Reign have been on a roll, winning six straight games. Five of those games were played on home ice, and the lone road contest was in San Diego.
Rookie goaltender Erik Portillo has just one win in three tries vs. Calgary this season, including their last matchup on Feb. 3 — a standalone game played in Ontario, coming just before the AHL All-Star Break. That game also featured Brandt Clarke’s first pro fight.
Speaking of Clarke, he and Sammy Fagemo both traveled with the club to Calgary after being reassigned by the Kings on Friday. Clarke is not expected to stay in the AHL long, yet he will play in Calgary.
As for Fagemo, management wants to see him up at the NHL level and get him into some games with the Kings before the 2023-24 season draws to a close. It will be tricky, though, as they have already used two of their allowed four recalls. And with Clarke likely coming back up soon, that would be a recall used. We’re told, in an ideal world, the organization would like to have Fagemo and Akil Thomas get some NHL action over the next month, so we’ll have to see how they make it all happen.
In one other roster related note, forward Andre Lee resumed skating this past week. He’s missed more than a month with a lower body injury after having an impressive first-half to the season, where Sturm was often having him play further up in the lineup and giving him additional minutes. Getting the big man back for the postseason would be a welcome addition to this year’s Reign group.
REIGN PROJECTED LINEUP vs. WRANGLERS
Chromiak – Tynan – Fagemo
Hudon – Thomas – Madden
Pavlychev – Helenius – Ward
Hodgson – Pinelli – Doty
Hicketts – Clarke
Connauton – Santini
Nousiainen – Rowe
Portillo (starter)
Dell
Other roster options include: (F) Young and (D) Inamoto, Krygier, Wylie
Injured: Lee (expected back late March)
Puck drop is scheduled for 5pm Pacific Time and the game can be viewed on AHL TV.
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