A single regulation loss in your first 12 games played doesn’t get a team what it used to.
On the season, Ontario Reign coach John Wroblewski has his team playing at a 10-1-1 clip. Meanwhile, the Stockton Heat are 9-0-2 on the year. That gives the latter a slight edge in the standings, based on winning percentage (.909 to .875).
How much better have those two teams been than everybody else in the Pacific Division? Henderson is in third place with a .571 winning percentage.
In fact, in any other year, the Reign and Heat would likely be the best teams in the entire AHL. However, the Utica Comets have set a league record by starting the season 12-0.
Sunday afternoon begins the first of back-to-back games in Ontario, with the Reign and Heat set to battle it out again on Monday night.
Despite all of the Durzi is playing, Durzi is not playing drama going on in the NHL, things seem to be much more stable at the AHL level. Durzi has been replaced on the blueline with Austin Strand. The latter had played four games for the Reign this year before being recalled to the Kings. He last suited up for Ontario on October 22, picking up his first goal of the year.
Look for Gabe Vilardi to slot in at wing when he makes his AHL return tomorrow with the Ontario Reign.
Will be a first place showdown with the Stockton Heat.
— The Mayor (@mayorNHL) November 20, 2021
Context…https://t.co/aHviqMydYL
— The Mayor (@mayorNHL) November 21, 2021
There will be several changes up front, largely generated by the return of TJ Tynan, who went on the most recent Kings road trip. In his absence, LA prospect Alex Turcotte moved up to the 1C, so he’ll take his usual place at 2C for today’s game and reunite with Austin Winger and Tyler Madden. The Anderson-Dolan line remains intact, where JAD is flanked by Russian Vladimir Tkachev and Swede Sammy Fagemo – who doubled his goal output in the last game by recording a hat trick vs. Tucson.
Tynan will get an opportunity to reunite with Martin Frk on the top line and play alongside Gabe Vilardi for the first time in his career. Frk continues to lead the AHL in both goals (9) and points (20), having played in all 12 Reign games. Vilardi joins the Reign after being with the Kings this year before spending a few weeks in protocol.
Vilardi’s last AHL game was Feb. 16, 2020. He put up three assists that night.
He made his pro debut nearly three years ago to the day, playing Nov. 29 and then his second AHL game came against Stockton on Nov. 30, 2018.
ONTARIO REIGN PROJECTED LINEUP vs. STOCKTON on 11/21
Frk – Tynan – Vilardi
Wagner – Turcotte – Madden
Tkachev – JAD – Fagemo
Burke – Sutter – Dudas
Other options include: Doty, Johnson, and Sodergran
Moverare – Spence
Gaunce – Grans
Phillips – Strand
Other options include: Nobody! (we’ll discuss on KOTP)
Sparks (starter)
Villalta
Puck drop is scheduled for 3pm in Ontario and can be viewed via AHL TV.
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With a battle for first place on the line today/tomorrow vs Stockton, we'll have @ontarioreign coach John Wroblewski on an all new @kingsofthepod.
Hope we can come up with a few good questions for him. pic.twitter.com/ODw9lgKf8c
— The Mayor (@mayorNHL) November 21, 2021
Lead photo of Anderson-Dolan by MayorsManor photographer Mike Zitek
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