PREVIEW – Ontario vs. Bakersfield, 11/1

WHO: Ontario Reign (6-1-1-0) vs. Bakersfield Condors (3-5-1-0)
WHAT: AHL REGULAR-SEASON GAME
WHEN: Friday, November 1, 2019 – 7:00 PM
WHERE: Toyota Arena – Ontario, CA
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: AHLTV – AUDIO – Mixlr – TWITTER: @ontarioreign & @reigninsider

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Reign and Condors square off in the first of two meetings this weekend at Toyota Arena. The matchups this weekend mark the third and fourth times the teams have met in Ontario’s first ten games of the season.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: With the recall of Carl Grundstrom to the LA Kings, expect some minor alterations in the lineup for the Reign. This week, Johan Sodergran and Drake Rymsha skated as a part of a four-man unit, and Sean Durzi is now healthy as well to return to action. Cal Petersen is expected to get the start in net, as he was the first goaltender off at this morning’s skate in El Segundo.

ENDING HOCKTOBER: What a difference a year makes. Ontario turned last season’s October record of 1-4-3 into a 6-1-1 mark through the first month of the 2019-20 season, good for an eight-point differential. The Reign are tied with Stockton for the Pacific Division lead with 13 points and Ontario’s .813 winning percentage is tied for first in the Western Conference and tied for fourth across the AHL.

CAL-O-WEEN: As we begin the month of November this evening, goaltender Cal Petersen stands alone as the only AHL netminder with six victories on the season. Petersen has posted a 6-1-1 record, a 2.32 goals against average and a .937 save percentage, as he’s started all eight Ontario games this season to date. Petersen also leads the league in minutes played (466), saves (269) and shots faced (287).

SCARET ANDERSON-DOLAN: Reign forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan has now collected multiple points in back-to-back games, with a goal and an assist in a pair of wins over San Diego last weekend. Anderson-Dolan has now amassed seven points (3-4-7) on the season, tying him for third on the Reign in points this season. Anderson-Dolan also ranks tied for fourth in the AHL in rookie scoring, with his three goals tied for seventh leaguewide among first-year skaters.

JACK-O-LUFFERN: The Reign left things until late on Saturday against San Diego, but forward Matt Luff found the back of the net with less than five minutes to play for the game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory. Luff’s goal marked the third straight game in which he’s tallied, with five points (3-2-5) in total over that stretch. Luff has now collected seven points (3-4-7) from seven games played this season with Ontario.

DURZOMBIE: Defenseman Sean Durzi returned to practice in a full-contact sweater this week, as he works towards his return to the Ontario lineup. Durzi suffered an upper-body injury on Opening Night against San Jose, and has missed every Reign game to date since. In preseason play, Durzi tallied a goal in two games played, with his tally coming on September 30 in Honda Center against Anaheim.

JASON CONDORHEES: Bakersfield has used a balanced approach on offense, with five players tied for the team lead with six points this season. Among those six are forwards Josh Currie and Kailer Yamamoto, who are tied for the Condors lead with four goals apiece, while forward Tyler Benson leads the team with six assists. Three different goaltenders have started games this season for Bakersfield, with Stuart Skinner leading the way with five appearances.