Before a league-wide holiday break in just a few days, the Ontario Reign first headed to Calgary for a pair of games. If it was a true winter they were looking for, mission accomplished. Local temperature is about minus-15 there today, a far cry from the sunny skies they left behind in SoCal.
While this week’s back-to-back set will be the first games ever played in Calgary by the Reign, it won’t be the first time Ontario has played the Wranglers franchise. After setting up shop in Stockton (as the Heat) during the AHL’s initial push to California, the NHL’s Flames relocated their top minor league affiliate closer to home for the 2022-23 campaign. Along with a new address, the team signed former Reign captain Brett Sutter over the summer, as well. Tuesday night will mark his first matchup vs. his old club.
Coach Marco Sturm is likely to only make one or two tweaks to his lineup. Riding a three-game winning streak as a team, Sturm is expected to turn to Cal Petersen in net again. With the Reign on a temporary assignment from the Kings, Petersen has amassed a 4-1 record in five AHL starts this season. He’s currently holding a .947 save percentage, along with a 1.61 goals-against average. He had a shutout in his last start, coming Saturday vs. Bakersfield.
Up front, Sturm is expected to keep his top two lines intact. Alan Quine could slot in, as he was a healthy scratch last game out. That would most likely come at the expense of Martin Chromiak or Taylor Ward on the third line.
For notes on Quinton Byfield, be sure to check out this morning’s news:
Quinton Byfield Won’t Return to NHL for At Least Another Week
Out on the blueline, we’ll assume Sturm continues his frequent of Kim Nousiainen. Given that he was out of the lineup vs. Bakersfield, he’ll most likely draw back in tonight.
ONTARIO REIGN PROJECTED LINEUP vs. CALGARY WRANGLERS
Turcotte – Byfield – Madden
Andersson – Tynan – Fagemo
Quine / Ward – Thompson – Chromiak
Lee – Helenius – Dudas
Moverare – Gaunce
Bjornfot – Grans
Nousiainen – Bisson
Petersen
Villalta
Game scratches: Allard, Wagner, Inamoto
Recalled to NHL: Kupari, Spence
Out injured: Thomas, Doty
Puck drop is scheduled for 6pm PST tonight and the game can be viewed on AHL TV.
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