PREVIEW – Ontario @ Bakersfield, 10/5

WHO: Ontario Reign (1-0-0-0) at. Bakersfield Condors (1-0-0-0)
WHAT: AHL REGULAR-SEASON GAME
WHEN: Saturday, October 5, 2019 – 7:00 PM
WHERE: Mechanics Bank Arena – Bakersfield, CA
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: AHLTV – AUDIO – Fox Sports Radio – TWITTER: @ontarioreign & @reigninsider

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Ontario Reign conclude Opening Weekend with a trip to Bakersfield for their first away contest of the season. The Reign and Condors both enter tonight’s action at 1-0, following winning on home ice on Opening Night.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: We’ve reached Game 2, what a long road it’s been. The Reign and Condors each enter tonight’s action off of a divisional victory yesterday, Ontario 5-0 over San Jose and Bakersfield 2-1 over San Diego. Per today’s morning skate, I would expect a similar lineup for the Reign, sans one change. Defenseman Sean Durzi is out tonight with an upper-body injury, suffered last night in Ontario, and is questionable to return next weekend. Expect to see Johan Sodergran take his place and the Reign to return to a more normal 12F – 6D look tonight.

Quick Injury Update – Sean Durzi will be out tonight after he suffered an upper-body injury last night against SJ. Questionable for next weekend, still a lot of time between now and then.

— Zach Dooley (@ReignInsider) October 5, 2019

PUTTING THE 0 IN 40: Ontario’s number 40, Cal Petersen, posted a 41-save shutout on Opening Night, the fifth blanking of his AHL career to date. Petersen made 21 stops in the second period alone, as a part of an exciting evening for the third-year goaltender. Petersen was one of two goalies in the AHL, along with Tucson’s Antti Raanta, to post a shutout on Opening Night. Hear from Petersen, and Mike Stothers on Petersen’s performance, HERE.

FIVE-GOAL FURY: The Reign have already matched last season’s total of five-or-more goal wins, and last season’s total for shutouts, with last night’s victory. Ontario went just 1-5 in games decided by five-or-more goals a season ago, but the Reign did score five-or-more goals 17 times last season and went 13-2-2 in those games, with the lone shutout being a Peter Budaj blanking of Colorado in February.

GOAL SCORERS GALORE: Ontario got five goals from five different players yesterday, with Mario Kempe, Martin Frk, Rasmus Kupari, Lance Bouma and Jaret Anderson-Dolan each finding the back of the net. All-in-all, 13 Reign players got on the scoresheet yesterday, with each goal having two assists, in what was a well-rounded offensive output for Ontario.

JAD COMPANY: Jaret Anderson-Dolan collected a goal and an assist in yesterday’s victory, with his late third-period tally being the first of his professional career. Anderson-Dolan also assisted on teammate Martin Frk’s power-play goal in the first period. The first-year forward was one of six AHL players with a multi-point game last night, along with teammate Mario Kempe, and was the only rookie to accomplish the feat.

First of many for JAD! pic.twitter.com/ekyB1kmoQM

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) October 5, 2019

OH CAPTAINS, MY CAPTAINS: As reported yesterday, forward Brett Sutter returns as team captain for the third consecutive season, after he was named captain in October 2017. Joining Sutter this season are assistant captains Mario Kempe, Lance Bouma and Ryan Stanton, each in their first season with the Reign. Kempe will don an “A” in all contests, while Stanton will wear an “A” at home and Bouma will wear an “A” on the road.

SCOUTING THE CONDORS: Bakersfield returns many faces from last season’s Pacific Division champion roster. The Condors got goals last night from Josh Currie and Kailer Yamomoto, in addition to 27 saves on 28 shots from goaltender Shane Starrett. Bakersfield has its top four scorers from a season ago back on the roster, including forward Tyler Benson, who was named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team last season with 66 points (15-51-66) from 64 games played.