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Coming off a weekend split in Tucson, coach Marco Sturm is looking to guide the Ontario Reign toward some consistent wins this week, as they begin a three-game home stand with Abbotsford on Tuesday.
In their only other meeting at Toyota Arena this season, the Reign came away with a victory back in late October. It was a night where Kings prospect Franky Pinelli scored his first pro goal.
Since then, the two clubs have played four times in Canada, where the Canucks took three of the games.
Rookie goaltender Erik Portillo has both of Reign wins over the Canucks and he’s expected to be back between the pipes again tonight.
Martin Chromiak has scored twice this season against Abbotsford. Based on the alignment at yesterday’s team practice in El Segundo, he’ll slot in on the right side of Sammy Helenius, a spot he’s been playing quite frequently over the past month.
Perhaps the biggest news heading into tonight’s matchup is the return of defenseman Jordan Spence. He’s been a healthy scratch for four straight games with the Kings — in favor of Brandt Clarke — so the 22-year-old rearguard was reassigned to Ontario earlier today. Beyond getting some game action in vs. Abbotsford, this should also signal that Clarke will remain in coach Jim Hiller’s lineup on Thursday (more on that tomorrow).
Below’s defensive projection is based upon remained on the ice late after this morning’s optional skate, as well as using the assumption Sturm will want to keep the Moverare-Hicketts pair together from last game. Instead, he may very well opt to play Spence with Jacob Moverare as the top pairing.
Last season, Spence had 45 points (4G. 41A) in 56 games with the Reign. Tonight will be his first AHL game of 2023-24. Thus far this season, he’s played 44 games for the Kings. Spence is currently waiver exempt, so he can move freely between the two leagues, as needed.
REIGN PROJECTED LINEUP vs. CANUCKS
Ward – Tynan – Fagemo
Hudon – Thomas – Madden
Hodgson – Helenius – Chromiak
Pavlychev – Pinelli – Doty
Connauton – Spence
Moverare – Hicketts
Krygier – Santini
Portillo (starter)
Dell
Other roster options include: (F) Francis, Young and (D) Inamoto, Nousiainen, Wylie
Injured: Lee (out until March)
Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm Pacific Time and the game can be viewed on AHL TV.
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