PREVIEW – Ontario vs. San Diego, 11/29

WHO: Ontario Reign (8-9-2-0) vs. San Diego Gulls (7-8-1-0)
WHAT: AHL REGULAR-SEASON GAME
WHEN: Friday, November 29, 2019 – 7:00 PM
WHERE: Toyota Arena – Ontario, CA
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: AHLTV – AUDIO – Mixlr – TWITTER: @ontarioreign & @reigninsider

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Reign are back in action tonight on Ontario for the latest edition of the So-Cal Series. Ontario is home for the second consecutive game, following an 8-5 defeat against Stockton on Wednesday.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Reign are expected to shuffle some pieces around in terms of line combinations this evening, but expect only one or two lineup changes from Wednesday’s game, with defenseman Ryan Stanton entering in place of defenseman Austin Strand, who was on late for extra work. Joining Strand were defenseman Chaz Reddekopp, along with forwards Drake Rymsha and Stephen Baylis and goaltender Matthew Villalta. One forward spot still needs to be decided, with 13 forwards off at regular time. Goaltender Cal Petersen was off first this morning for Ontario.

HIGH-SCORING AFFAIR: Ontario saw several season highs in goals, both for and against, in Wednesday’s defeat against Stockton. On the Reign side, the five goals scored were tied for the most at home this season (10/4 vs. SJ) and the four third-period tallies tied an overall season high for goals scored in a period (10/25 @ SD). On the other end, Ontario conceded eight goals for the second time this season, and allowed a season-high five goals in the first period.

MULTI-POINT MASON: Reign forward Mason Bergh picked up his first points of the season on Wednesday, as he collected a goal and an assist in the third period. Bergh’s goal was the second in his AHL career, with the two points marking the first time he’s ever collected multiple points in a game with the Reign. The Colorado College product has now amassed two points (1-1-2) from four games played on the season.

BECK AND KALE: Ontario defenseman Kale Clague also tallied a multi-point game on Wednesday, with his first-period, power-play goal opening the Reign scoring account on the evening. Clague now has three points (2-1-3) over his last four games played, and leads all Reign defensemen this season in goals (4) and points (9). Clague’s PPG was his first tally of the season on the man advantage, after the 21-year-old blueliner tallied three with Ontario a season ago.

DOUBLE DEREK: Defenseman Derek Forbort was assigned to Ontario wednesday morning, on a conditioning assignment from the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings. Forbort, who had missed the start of the 2019-20 season to date with an injury, collected two shots on goal in his season debut, in addition to five penalty minutes from a first-period scrap. Forbort has appeared in 188 career AHL games with Ontario and Manchester, and won the Calder Cup in 2015 with the Monarchs.

RIGHT-SAID RAS: Reign forward Rasmus Kupari found the back of the net on Wednesday for his fifth goal of the season, his second straight game with a goal. Kupari has also scored in three consecutive home games, dating back to November 2 versus Bakersfield. Kupari’s five goals on the season rank tied for tenth in the AHL amongst first-year forwards, and the Finland native has seven points (5-2-7) in total so far this season.

SCOUTING THE GULLS: Though they have dropped their two most recent contests, San Diego has posted a 7-2-1 record throughout the month of November to date. Gulls forward Sam Carrick leads all San Diego players with eight goals this season, while defenseman Chris Wideman leads the team with 15 points (7-8-15). Wideman has seven points (4-3-7) from four games played against the Reign this season, and his seven tallied lead all AHL defensemen this season.

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