Sometimes the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Since joining the NHL in 2017, the Vegas Golden Knights have largely appeared like anything but an expansion team — including often giving the LA Kings fits. Last January, their affiliate in Henderson joined the AHL and it’s been more of the same — with the Silver Knights dominating the Reign last season and then splitting a pair of games earlier this season.
That narrative slightly changed on Friday.
Despite playing with only 10 healthy forwards, Ontario put together an impressive 5-2 win over Henderson in the opening game of a back-to-back home-and-home series.
That's a wrap on warmies…
Wolanin back, Villalta back, and more. pic.twitter.com/kKCNHZ4Nl1
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) January 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/mayorNHL/status/1482190621037117440?t=G6XDMnPgU8HdJk8skJhMCg&s=19
https://twitter.com/mayorNHL/status/1482200800931631104?t=0qZOdyueXI87lNIa_i6r8g&s=19
After multiple penalties, the Reign and Silver Knights are playing 3-on-3 in the SECOND PERIOD. Don't see that very often.
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) January 15, 2022
Gabe Vilardi scores on the powerplay to make it 4-1 #Reign!
Assisted by: Spence(14), Tynan(27) pic.twitter.com/vohW8YfKWM
— Eric (@kingsgifs2) January 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/mayorNHL/status/1482207736045531136?t=2DQQh4jovG51PrrVMJ84JA&s=19
4-1 Reign after 40 pic.twitter.com/wZMmSPlpk8
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) January 15, 2022
Aidan Dudas scores a highlight-reel goal to make it 5-1 #Reign!
Assisted by Burke(8) pic.twitter.com/04YQCD67So
— Eric (@kingsgifs2) January 15, 2022
With Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Samuel Fagemo, Jacob Moverare, Austin Strand, and Jacob Ingham in Seattle, as part of LA Kings taxi squad, there simply weren’t expected to be many options available to the Reign coaching staff tonight — until…
ROSTER MOVES
After playing with only 10 healthy forwards last night, Ontario GM Rich Seeley has been busy…
Reign have signed Keegan Iverson and Karl El-Mir to PTOs.
El-Mir had 4 goals in 10GP with @IndyFuel.
Iverson also comes from Indy, but played w/ ONT & Manch n 2017-18.
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) January 15, 2022
From what we’ve gathered this afternoon, the plan is to insert one of those forwards into the lineup. Both will skate in warm-ups and then a decision will be made on which one. The staff seems content with a configuration of 11 forwards and seven defensemen for this game.
After tonight, Ontario will return home for another game vs. Abbotsford on Monday.
ONTARIO REIGN PROJECTED LINEUP vs. HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS on 1/15
Burke – Tynan – Dudas
Vilardi – Byfield – Madden
Johnson – Sutter – Wagner
Pavlychev – Iverson/El-Mir
Other options include: Doty, Sodergran
Protocol: Tkachev
Injured: Akil Thomas
Wolanin – Grans
Phillips – McIvor
Gaunce – Spence
Kasastul
Other options include: N/A
Villalta (starter)
Parik
Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm tonight in Henderson and the game can be viewed for free on AHL TV.
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Lead photo of Vilardi via Mike Zitek
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