Manor Saturday: Reign Lineup Projection vs. Firebirds, Kaliyev Attempts to go B2B

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What a week it’s already been for the Ontario Reign. They started out by beating San Jose (a top team in the Pacific Division), then Calgary (the AHL’s No. 1 team), and then topped Coachella Valley on Friday night (their nemesis of the past few seasons).

* 4-1 victory

— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) December 21, 2024


After beating the Firebirds in regulation for the first time in more than a year, now what? Well, the two teams will meet up again for the back half of their home-and-home set this weekend. The only difference is, Night 2 will be played at Toyota Arena in Ontario.

Postgame thoughts from Reign coach Marco Sturm… pic.twitter.com/5LjitxMlij

— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) December 21, 2024


For Reign coach Marco Strum, last night was what he called ‘the crucial’ game of the consecutive nights against the Firebirds. However, he doesn’t want to see his team let up either. They slayed the dragon so to speak; with an opportunity to do it again on home ice this time.

Goaltender Erik Portillo is slated to start between the pipes. He’s holding a five-game winning streak, where he’s given up a single goal in four of those contests.

Despite helping his team earn a 4-1 road victory on Friday, young forward Franky Pinelli still thinks his team has more to offer and can be better tonight:

Pinelli following Ontario's big win in Coachella tonight… pic.twitter.com/DAdmg39Pk0

— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) December 21, 2024


The second year forward has been a curious case for Sturm and the Reign organization this season. Pinelli ended his 2023-24 campaign with five goals over the final nine regular season games, then came out of the gates this season with just one goal over the first 10 games (and two goals in the first 17 games).

“I’m not gonna lie, he had a tough start,” said Ontario’s bench boss. “I was not disappointed; let’s [not] put it that way. But I thought he was just okay at the at the Rookie Tournament, and I thought he was just okay at training camp. Then, during his start to this season, it took him a little bit [of time to get going]. I think the last three or four weeks, now we’ve started to see him playing the game the right way. … he’s stepped up his game.”

Sturm went on to talk about some of the challenges that players often experience early in their pro careers.

“You’re gonna have ups and downs in a game,” he explained. “That’s the tough part about those young kids, is to be consistent. Not just to be consistent on a long stretch in the season but also be consistent in a game; even in a shift. That’s something — not just with him, with all our young kids — to try to work on.”

Kings forward Arthur Kaliyev perhaps saw the least amount of ice time on Friday of his three-game conditioning assignment thus far. It wasn’t really his fault, though. Ontario took three separate minor penalties in the second period, leaving Kaliyev on the bench more than usual due to him not playing on the penalty kill.

“I hate to see that, as a coach,” Sturm quipped. “You look down and you see Kaliyev and Fagemo –those type of guys who usually score goals — just sitting there. But, they were all rested in the third period and got it done.”

REIGN PROJECTED LINEUP vs. FIREBIRDS


If there are any key changes during pregame warm-ups, this article will be updated.

Hudon – Gawdin – Malott
Kaliyev – Studnicka – Fagemo
Chromiak – Pinelli – Ward
Element – Madden – Doty

Hicketts – Millar
Jones – Walsh
Booth – Rowe

Portillo (starter)
Copley

Other roster options include: (F) Jamsen (D) Krygier, Parker-Jones

Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 pm Pacific Time and the game can be viewed on FloHockey. An audio only feed is also available on the ESPN LA app.

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