PREVIEW – Ontario vs. Tucson, 11/25

WHO: Ontario Reign (6-7-2-1) vs. Tucson Roadrunners (10-5-0-1)
WHAT: AHL REGULAR SEASON GAME
WHEN: Sunday, November 25, @ 3:00 PM
WHERE: Citizens Business Bank Arena – Ontario, CA
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: AHLTV – AUDIO – Mixlr – TWITTER: @ontarioreign & @reigninsider

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Ontario Reign are back in action on home ice, following Friday’s 4-2 defeat against the Bakersfield Condors, ending what was a three-game winning streak for the Reign. Ontario hosts the Tucson Roadrunners for the second time this season, with Tucson previously posting an 8-5 victory over the Reign in late October.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Reign had been playing more consistent hockey as of late, but suffered a setback in Friday’s defeat. Ontario has posted a 5-3 record thus far in the month of November, after a one-win month of October. Tonight’s game begins a stretch with four of the Reign’s next six games coming against Tucson, including back-to-back Sunday’s on home ice, preceding a two-game trip to Arizona in early December. The team was not in action for a full morning skate this morning, so tonight’s starting goaltender and scratches won’t be known until closer to game time.

STRIKING FIRST: Ontario scored first on Friday against Bakersfield, just the third time in its first 16 games this season that it has scored the first goal. The Reign are 1-1-1 when scoring the first goal, and 1-1-2 when leading the game through 20 minutes. While more coincidental, Ontario also lost for the first time when tied through 40 minutes on Friday, falling to 4-1-0 in such situations.

A TIME TO PENALTY KILL: Ontario successfully killed off each off Bakersfield’s four power plays on Friday, marking the fifth time in six games it has had a perfect penalty kill. Over that span, the Reign are 23-of-25 when down a man, good for a 92 percent success rate. Ontario has also tallied twice while shorthanded over its past six games, including a shorthanded goal from forward Sam Herr on Wednesday in San Diego, his second man-down point of the season.

SIEGFRIED & ROY: Reign defenseman Matt Roy continued his run of offensive form as he scored the team’s first goal in Friday’s defeat, a power-play tally. Roy has now amassed seven points (2-5-7) over his last seven games played, a span that includes a pair of multi-point efforts in his last four games. Roy has now totaled six points (2-4-6) on the power play this season, leading all Ontario defensemen and ranking third on the team overall.

REM-PAL AROUND: Ontario forward Sheldon Rempal collected an assist on Roy’s goal, increasing his team-leading totals in points (17) and tying forward Brett Sutter for the team lead in assists (10). Rempal is also the team leader with seven goals and, leaguewide, ranks second in points by a first-year player. Amongst all AHL rookies, Rempal also ranks tied for fourth in goals scored and tied for sixth in assists.

NEW GUYS IN NET: The Reign have received solid goaltending since losing both of their netminders (Cal Petersen and Peter Budaj) to the NHL, in the form of Charles Williams and Michael Leighton. The two have combined to post a 3-2-0 record across five games played, along with a combined 2.43 goals against average and a .919 save percentage. Leighton has started each of the past two games, earning his first win with the Reign on Wednesday against San Diego.