Just last season, a matchup between the Ontario Reign and Abbotsford Canucks would have been a marquee Pacific Division showdown. Now, it’s the kind of contest some would label a ‘trap game.’
Seven months removed from lifting the Calder Cup, Abbotsford sits at the bottom of the division with 36 points; a dramatic fall from the highest of highs. Such is life in the AHL, though, where roster turnover and perpetual changes are just part of the norm.
Case in point: Ontario has been the polar opposite this season. The Reign have won 11 of their last 14 games and currently lead the division with 56 points. No other team in the league has been better than their 8-2-0 run over the past 10 games.
Perhaps even more remarkable, they’ve done it without a few key players — guys who have either been recalled to the NHL at times or missed time with injuries.
Tonight will be a mixed bag on that front, as Kings prospect Martin Chromiak returns to the lineup, while Kenny Connors has been summoned to the NHL.
Other lineup changes expected when the Reign take the ice at Toyota Arena include Franky Pinelli sliding over to center (due to the absence of Connors) and Aatu Jamsen moving from RW1 to LW3. Defenseman Otto Salin is believed to be rotating out on defense again, something he’s done quite regularly during his rookie season in 2025-26.
Fortunately for Ontario, Chromiak’s return could provide an immediate impact. He’s riding a five-game point streak (1G, 7A) and has tallied at least one assist in four consecutive games.
In net, Erik Portillo is expected to get the start. Since returning from an injury that sidelined him for nearly two months, the 25-year-old netminder has won six straight games. Adding in the four-game win streak he put together before the injury, Portillo has now won 10 consecutive decisions.
Looking at the bigger picture, this contest will begin a four-game series between the two clubs over the next three weeks. And it probably won’t be as easy as it may appear on paper. Despite their ongoing struggles, Abbotsford is coming off three straight wins, including a sweep against San Diego this past weekend.
Connors’ absence will only add to the challenge, as he’s been an instrumental part of Ontario’s success this season. Coach Andrew Lord will now look to refocus his team on the task ahead, regardless of who is in the lineup — something he did quite nicely recently; guiding the Reign through similar adversity when guys like Taylor Ward, Andre Lee, and Cole Guttman were recalled.
It’s that ‘next man up’ mentality the team has preached since training camp that has helped fuel Ontario’s success to this point. Regardless of who’s in the lineup, this group has been prepared to play to the best of their ability night in and night out, a clear testament to Lord and the entire coaching staff.
Reign Projected Lineup vs. Canucks
If there are any key changes during pregame warmups, this article will be updated.
Lee – Gawdin – Chromiak
Alexandrov – Brown – Guttman
Jamsen – Pinelli – Wright
Ziemmer – Hughes – Doty
Hicketts – Rego
Dvorak – Bolduc
Kirsanov – Booth
Portillo (starter)
Copley
Likely scratches: (F) Lawrence and (D) Salin and (G) Saville
Recalled to LA: Connors, Ward
Injured: Burroughs, Millar
Key Game Info
Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time and will be streamed via FloSports. Additionally, a Reign radio feed is available here.
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