In the AHL’s Pacific Division, teams see a lot of the same opponents. While it can be debated if that’s a good or bad things, two things can’t be denied — if you play a team eight times during the regular season, (a) you should know their tendencies pretty well and (b) there’s plenty of chance for payback as the season wears along.
Perhaps the best question, though, revolves around momentum. Unlike the post-season, where teams play each other consecutively for three, four, five, or even seven games, a season series is often broken into several micro-series. The Eagles and Reign have faced off five times thus far this season. They’ve split both two-game series (also both played in Colorado). And the Reign won a single one-off game played in Ontario back on December 2. That was also Cal Petersen’s return to the AHL (discussed here).
https://twitter.com/mayorNHL/status/1620520469907775488
Based upon today’s morning skate in El Segundo, coach Marco Sturm is opting to go with Matt Villalta in net for this one. He’s seen action against the Eagles in three games prior this season; one game was in relief, and he went 1-1 in his two starts. That loss came just a few weeks ago in Colorado, where he gave up five goals. Villalta did rebound in his only start since then, giving up one goal and earning a victory in Calgary last Wednesday.
On defense, we’re expecting Kim Nousiainen to rotate out in favor of puck-eating blueliner Tlyer Inamoto. He’s yet to meet a shot he doesn’t want to block.
ONTARIO REIGN PROJECTED LINEUP vs. COLORADO EAGLES
Andersson – Tynan – Madden
Dudas – Quine – Ward
Lee – Helenius – Chromiak
Crone – Ierullo – Kemp
Bisson – Spence
Moverare – Grans
Inamoto – Allard
Villalta
Petersen
Game scratches: Becker, Gaunce, Goulbourne, Nousiainen, Pavlychev, Thompson
Recalled to NHL: Björnfot, Fagemo, Kupari, Turcotte
Out injured: Thomas, Doty
Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm PST tonight and the game can be viewed on AHL TV.
RELATED CONTENT:
VIDEO: Hoven on Kings Intermission Report via Bally Sports West
Sturm, McLellan, and Blake Seeing Positive Strides in Reshaping of Ontario Reign
Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com