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Ontario Reign Projected Lineup vs. First Place Stockton; Wagner Returns

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Eight and three. Those are two of the most important numbers heading into today’s Reign-Heat game at Toyota Arena.

Ontario opens the day eight points back of first-place Stockton, yet the Reign also hold three games in hand.

Thus far, the two teams have met up twice this season, splitting the games with one win each. Both of those games took place in Ontario. After today’s matinee, the season series will move to Stockton for the next four games.

The Reign put together a victory on home ice Saturday night, taking down San Diego 5-4 in overtime. Meanwhile, the Heat are coming off a 4-1 loss to the same Gulls team on Friday night.

Also of note, Stockton holds a perfect 7-0-0-0 record this year following losses; outscoring opponents by a 28-11 margin in those games. They’ve also scored first in six of those seven games.

Compelling storylines exist in both goalie creases. Stockton is expected to start Southern California native and Calgary Flames native Dustin Wolf. He’s 15-1-2-0 on the season, including six wins in the team’s seven contests following losses on the year. He also has a win over the Reign back in November, where he stopped 31 of 33 shots.

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One of the Kings top goaltending prospects, Lukas Parik, will be back in net for the Reign. This comes after he entered the game last night in relief of an injured Garret Sparks and came away with his first AHL victory.

As a first-year professional, Parik has been cutting his teeth in the ECHL this season. Over 16 games played with the Rapid City Rush, Parik has put together a 9-4-3 record with an impressive .927 save percentage.

Ontario received offensive help last night from several other Kings prospects.

As for today, we’re hearing Austin Wagner is expected to return to action for the first time since mid-December. He has seven points (4G, 3A) in 19 games for Ontario this season.

ONTARIO REIGN PROJECTED LINEUP vs. STOCKTON HEAT on 1/9

Burke – Tynan – Fagemo
Vilardi – Byfield – Madden
Johnson – JAD – Dudas
Wagner- Sutter – Doty

Other options include: Pavlychev, Sodergran
Not available to play: Tkachev
Additional Info: Akil Thomas remains sidelined with a lower body injury

Phillips – Spence
Gaunce – Grans
Kasastul – Strand
Other options include: N/A

Parik (starter)
Villalta

Puck drop is scheduled for 3pm today in Ontario and the game can be viewed on AHL TV.

RELATED CONTENT:

Kings Of The Podcast: Ep. 109 with Akil Thomas

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Lead photo of Byfield via Mike Zitek

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