Coming off a loss in their series opener against the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Wednesday, Game 2 is pretty close to a must-win situation for Ontario coach Marco Sturm. With this round being a best-of-five scenario, the Reign already need to win three of the next four games to advance. A loss on Friday night would leave no further room for error.
With a day off on Thursday, only the scratches from Game 1 took to the ice in Coachella Valley. All players who suited up for action stayed at the hotel for off-ice meetings and workouts. Earlier today, every available player took part in morning skate. Without any sort of real indications regarding the lineup for tonight, it’s a bit too early to definitively declare any changes.
Question 1 – What about Pinelli and Chromiak?
In one of the more intriguing storylines of the playoffs thus far, Sturm has opted not to use Kings prospects Franky Pinelli and Martin Chromiak. On the surface, his explanation for Game 1 of the postseason seemed reasonable — even if the person hearing it didn’t agree with it. The former NHL player turned coach wanted a bigger, heavier, more experienced lineup. When they won, he then said he didn’t plan to change the lineup as long as the team was winning. Well, now what? When pressed on this subject following the team’s loss to the Firebirds earlier this week, Sturm repeatedly talked about ‘not panicking’ just because they lost one game. What does that mean for tonight? We’ll have to, you know… wait for the song.
Just don’t lose sight of the fact Pinelli was actually one of Ontario’s more effective forwards down the stretch. He scored in six of the team’s final nine regular season games. And hasn’t managed a sniff of ice time since.
Question 1 – What about the goaltending?
Rookie Erik Portillo is expected to will start between the pipes tonight. Normally, one would expect Sturm to give the talented first-year pro a pretty long leash. After all, he was one of the best goalie is the AHL all season. Yet, as noted above, the Reign have very little wiggle room, needing three wins over the next four games. Add to that the fact Portillo gave up three goals on just 15 shots in Game 1, and raising an eyebrow is justified.
And, oh by the way, lurking over on the bench is Jacob Ingham. He’s more than proven his skills are up for the challenge, and came close to earning the starting job during training camp. He’s a winner, and is chomping at the bit to get back in there. Would Sturm opt for an early goalie swap should the team get off to a rough start tonight?
Question 3 – What about the defense?
After sweeping Bakersfield and Abbotsford using the same lineup, Sturm was forced to make a change to his defense last time out. Kevin Connauton remains a little banged up, so Cole Krygier drew in. However, it wasn’t a simple 1-for-1 switch. Instead, Kings prospect Kim Nousiainen was elevated from the third pair up to the second pair. Thereby leaving Krygier to help create a new third pair.
Was one player being out — and two new defensive units put together — the key difference in Game 1? No, probably not.
If Connauton isn’t ready to go again, one option would be to put Nousiainen back with his regular partner, allowing Krygier to just slide in as a replacement at LD2. It’s even a look Sturm showed a few times in the third period of Game 1.
Just don’t expect to see Angus Booth tonight.
Question 4 – What about Lee and Helenius?
This topic is more a statement than a question. They were that good on Wednesday and have pretty much been the team’s most consistent line throughout the playoffs. Along with linemate Taylor Ward, they play a 200-foot game and are noticeable every shift.
Sturm’s thoughts on the trio here.
Lee now has goals in four straight games and is tied for the team scoring lead. He’s also a plus-4 in the playoffs.
Question 5 – What’s the biggest issue?
Special teams always play a factor in the playoffs. It’s more than that, though. Sturm’s top-6 has to be better.
Although Sammy Fagemo converted for a goal on the power play, Ontario needs more from him. He leads the team with 26 shots on goal; which is the overwhelming majority of what’s being generated from his line, as Alex Turcotte only has four SOG, and T.J. Tynan has seven. Fagemo’s 26 SOG have him tied for third among league leaders.
It was Fagemo on Turcotte who were also on the ice for the first goal against on Wednesday. They, the Akil Thomas line was scored against about a minute later. That’s not the expectation Sturm has from his top two lines. He pointed it out after the game and surly reviewed it with the team yesterday. ‘Just do your job,’ as he put it when speaking with the media following Ontario’s 3-2 loss in Coachella Valley.
Thomas leads the team in power play goals with two. That also has him tied for the lead among skaters in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
REIGN PROJECTED LINEUP vs. FIREBIRDS
Turcotte – Tynan – Fagemo
Hudon – Thomas – Madden
Lee – Helenius – Ward
Hodgson – Pavlychev – Doty
Hicketts – Clarke
Nousiainen – Santini
Krygier – Wylie
Portillo
Ingham
Other roster options include: (F) Chromiak, Pinelli, Olson and (D) Connauton
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm Pacific Time and the game can be viewed on AHL TV.
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