Heading into the just-completed AHL All-Star break, the Reign had lost four straight and only picked up a single victory in eight games.
Tonight in Ontario, they’ll play their lone game over a 13-day stretch. After this one, they don’t face another opponent until next Friday in Tucson, where they have a back-to-back set.
While that may not sound good on the surface, it may be a blessing in disguise.
A few hours before the Kings returned to practice on Thursday at Toyota Sports Performance Center, coach Marco Sturm put his Reign club through the usual paces. Even with forward Alex Turcotte and Brandt Clarke up with the big club, Sturm had enough players to round out his four lines of forwards and three defensive pairs. That may not be the case tonight… at least not up front.
Despite skating yesterday in practice, forwards Sammy Helenius and Martin Chromiak were absent from Friday’s morning skate — and curiously, defensemen Cole Krygier and Joe Hicketts were in white jerseys (a color usually reserved for forwards). From what we’ve been able to gather, both Helenius and Chromiak are sick; they will not play tonight. Given the Reign only had 12 healthy forwards to begin with, this will be challenging for Sturm, to say the least.
Thursday’s alignment was:
Ward – Tynan – Fagemo
Hudon – Thomas – Hodgson
Madden – Helenius – Chromiak
Young – Pinelli – Francis
Moverare – Haiskanen
Krygier – Connauton
Nousiainen – Santini
Utilizing the above information, we’ll project something a little bit different for tonight’s matchup with Henderson.
Interestingly, Hicketts has been out of the lineup since October with an injury. After working so hard for several months, it would be quite a story if his return to action comes at forward.
REIGN PROJECTED LINEUP vs. SILVER KNIGHTS
Ward – Tynan – Fagemo
Hudon – Thomas – Hodgson
Madden – Pinelli – Young
Krygier – Francis – Hicketts
Moverare – Haiskanen
Connauton – Wylie
Nousiainen – Santini
Portillo (starter)
Dell
Other roster options include: (F) N/A and (D) N/A
Injured: Doty and Inamoto (both are getting close), 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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