PREVIEW – Ontario vs. San Jose, 3/1

WHO: Ontario Reign (17-25-5-2) vs. San Jose Barracuda (30-14-2-4)
WHAT: AHL REGULAR SEASON GAME
WHEN: Friday, March 1, @ 7:00 PM
WHERE: Citizens Business Bank Arena – Ontario, CA
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: AHLTV – AUDIO – Mixlr – TWITTER: @ontarioreign & @reigninsider

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Ontario Reign open the month of March with three games in three days, all on home ice at Citizens Business Bank Arena. The Reign host San Jose tonight, before a pair of games against the Iowa Wild on Saturday and Sunday.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Reign enter tonight’s action as winner of each of the last two head-to-head meetings against the Barracuda, after the North California foe won the first four. Overall, Ontario has earned a point in three of its last four games, extended with a 2-0 victory over Colorado on Saturday evening. Forward Matt Moulson leads the Reign with three goals against San Jose this season, while defenseman Kale Clague leads the team with five points (2-3-5).

THREE-IN-THREE: Tonight’s game begins the first and only three-and-three set of the season for the Ontario Reign. This set is the fifth three-in-three in the Reign’s AHL franchise history: The Reign did not skate in any three-in-three sets a season ago, but did have a pair in both the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. The Reign’s opponent on Saturday and Sunday, the Iowa Wild, will also play a three-in-three set this weekend, skating in Bakersfield tonight.

BUDAJ CALL: Ontario netminder Peter Budaj posted his team’s first shutout of the season as he stopped all 47 shots he faced in a 2-0 victory over Colorado on Saturday. The shutout was Budaj’s 10th as a member of the Reign, his 20th in the AHL overall and his 38th throughout his professional career. Over his last five games, Budaj has stopped 115 of 122 shots, good for a .943 save percentage.

ZACK ATTACK: Reign forward Zack Mitchell scored the game-winning goal on Saturday as histally early in the third period held up as the difference. With the goal, Mitchell extended his scoring streak to six games, with seven points in total (4-3-7) during that run, with the fourth-year forwards tallying goals in four of his last five games played. The fourth-year forward has collected 16 points in total (8-8-16) this season from 43 games played.

LIKE MIKE: Ontario center Mike Amadio re-joined the team earlier this week on assignment from the Kings. Amadio has collected 11 points (2-9-11) from 14 games played in the AHL this season with the Reign. The third-year forward has also amassed eight points (4-4-8) from 39 NHL games played with the Kings this season, identical totals to what he posted during the 2017-18 NHL season.

BIG CLUB BLUELINE: Ontario saw three alums skate on the blueline yesterday evening with the Kings – Sean Walker, Matt Roy and Kurtis MacDermid. Walker collected an assist on Anze Kopitar’s game-opening goal, while the contest was MacDermid’s season debut at the NHL level. The trio are three of four defensemen to skate with both teams this season, in addition to Daniel Brickley.

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