Game Preview – Ontario @ Stockton, 11/9

WHO: Ontario Reign (3-4-2-1) @ Stockton Heat (4-6-1-0)
WHAT: AHL REGULAR SEASON GAME
WHEN: Friday, November 9, @ 7:00 PM
WHERE: Stockton Arena – Stockton, CA
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: AHLTV – AUDIO – iHeartRadio (Away Feed) – TWITTER: @ontarioreign & @reigninsider

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Ontario Reign are back in action this evening as they begin a home-and-home set against the Stockton Heat, starting tonight at Stockton Arena. The two teams will meet again on Sunday afternoon in Ontario, the first matinee puck drop of the 2018-19 season for the Reign.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Tonight marks the third matchup between the Reign and the Heat, with each team earning three points from the previous two. Ontario skated to a thrilling, comeback victory on October 6 in Stockton, coming from three goals down to earn a 6-5 overtime victory. The two teams met again in Ontario’s home opener, with the Heat coming back in that one as they overturned a two-goal deficit in the game’s final 10 minutes, en route to a 5-4 overtime victory. With the most recent Ontario roster moves, the Reign are down to two scratched players tonight – Expect Cal Petersen to be the starter in net – more on him below.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: Despite just one goal conceded in the opening 20 minutes on Saturday, Ontario still continues to play high-scoring first periods this season. The Reign have conceded 26 goals in the first period thus far this season, the most in the AHL, but have given up just 23 goals in the second, third and overtime periods combined. Reign goaltenders this season have posted a .833 save percentage in first period, but have rebounded to net a .915 save percentage in second and third periods.

SPEAKING OF STARTS….: While we’re on the topic of starts to games, the Reign have scored the game’s first goal just once in ten games (shootout loss to San Diego on 10/13), and have led after the first 20 minutes just twice. The Reign are one of just eight teams leaguewide with multiple victories when trailing after the first period and have collected a point in five of nine games this season when conceding the first goal.

SEA SHEL-DON: Forward Sheldon Rempal has led the way for the Reign this season against Stockton. The first-year forward has tallied three goals and two assists from the two games played, including a career-best three-point outing on October 12 in Ontario. Rempal is currently tied for the team lead with six goals and leads all Ontario players with 1.57 points-per-game. Leaguewide, Rempal is tied for the AHL lead in goals by a rookie and is tied for third in total points.

DANI CAL-IFORNIA: Ontario goaltender Cal Petersen posted a pair of victories last weekend, extended in Saturday’s 4-2 victory over San Diego. Two days after he turned aside 34 of the 37 shots he faced in Thursday’s win over Texas, Petersen stopped 29 of 31 shots on Saturday. Over the weekend, Petersen posted a 2-0-0 record, with a .926 save percentage and a 2.50 goals against average. Read more on Petersen’s development – via The Athletic’s Josh Cooper – HERE.

WAG YOUR TAIL: Reign forward Austin Wagner returned to the Ontario lineup on Saturday evening and made an impression with the go-ahead goal midway through the third period. Wagner, who appeared in his first eight career NHL games with the Kings earlier this season, going scoreless, previously amassed 10 goals and 17 points as a rookie during the 2017-18 campaign with the Reign.

SEEING REDD: Ontario assigned defenseman Chaz Reddekopp to Manchester earlier this week. The 6-4 blueliner has appeared in three of the Reign’s 10 games played this season, collecting one assist, eight penalty minutes and a +1 rating. Reddekopp was described by Ontario Head Coach Mike Stothers as a “solid” player and moving to Manchester allows him the opportunity to play on a more regular basis. The Monarchs are in action tonight and tomorrow this weekend, as well as in a midweek tilt on Wednesday.