For nearly three decades now, the Kings and their NoCal neighbors — the San Jose Sharks — have built a rather bitter rivalry. The same can’t necessarily be said of their AHL counterparts. Last season, the Ontario Reign picked up 11 of 12 possible points against the Barracuda. And they’re looking to keep the good times rolling when facing off with the club again on Wednesday night.
It will mark the first time the two teams have met up in the 2022-23 season; with each side off to a hot start thus far. Currently tied atop the Pacific Division standings with 8 points each, tonight also marks Ontario’s first ‘official’ visit to the host organization’s new building. Last month, many of these same players participated in the NHL Rookie Faceoff in San Jose’s dazzling new purpose-built arena for the Barracuda, yet those were not considered AHL games.
In one quirky oddity, William Eklund, whom the Sharks selected No. 7 overall at the 2021 NHL Draft — one spot ahead of LA’s Brandt Clarke — is expected to play for the Barracuda on Wednesday. Meanwhile, due to NHL rules, Clarke is not eligible for the AHL this season (which certainly plays into part of the reason he’ll be staying up with the Kings moving forward).
Reign coach Marco Sturm is expected to make two lineup adjustments for tonight’s game. Look for Pheonix Copley to return in net; and Kim Nousiainen will come out, replaced by the returning Jacob Moverare.
Kings prospect Andre Lee is said to be super close to returning to game action. He even took warmups over the weekend, so it should be any day now. Meanwhile Martin Chromiak has not resumed skating with the team in practice just yet. He is expected to be back on the ice again very soon, though.
ONTARIO REIGN PROJECTED LINEUP vs. SAN JOSE BARRACUDA
Andersson – Tynan – Fagemo
Quine – Kupari – Ward
Dudas – Thomas – Madden
Wagner – Helenius – Doty
Björnfot – Spence
Moverare – Grans
Bisson – Gaunce
Copley
Villalta
Game scratches: Thompson, Inamoto, Nousiainen
Injury / Illness: Allard, Chromiak, Lee
Unavailable: Turcotte (see here for further update)
In the line(s) of duty pic.twitter.com/26BMEtKCpu
— San Jose Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) October 26, 2022
Reporting live from the Reef. pic.twitter.com/YBtZO0N3eg
— San Jose Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) October 26, 2022
Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm PST tonight and the game can be viewed on AHL TV.
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Lead Photo via Daniel Stopani
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