REIGN PREVIEW – Ontario vs. Bakersfield, 3/18

WHO: Ontario Reign (33-11-4-3) vs. Bakersfield Condors (25-16-4-5)
WHAT: AHL REGULAR-SEASON GAME #52
WHEN: Friday, March 18 @ 7:00 PM Pacific
WHERE: Toyota Arena – Ontario, CA
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: AHLTV – AUDIO: Mixlr – TWITTER: @ShafReign & @ontarioreign

 

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Ontario Reign return to action on Friday night at Toyota Arena, looking for a win in their eighth and final meeting of the season against the Bakersfield Condors. Ontario has won five of their previous seven matchups against the Condors, posting a record of 5-1-1. The Reign are in second place in the Pacific Division standings with a points percentage of 0.716 and although Bakersfield is in fourth, the Condors have 14 fewer points (0.590).

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Reign are approaching postseason territory and have the ability to lock up a playoff bid as early as Saturday. Their current magic number to secure a spot is down to three points and a win on Friday in the matchup with the Condors would put them within striking distance. Ontario continues to be the highest-scoring team in the AHL, leading the league with an average of 3.98 goals per game. Bakersfield ranks 11th in the league offensively, averaging 3.22 goals per contest. The Reign power play is also No. 1 in the AHL, converting on 27.1% of their opportunities. In their seven previous meetings with the Condors this season, the Reign have scored eight power play goals on 36 opportunities (22%).

LAST TIME OUT: Two goals from Benoit Olivier-Groulx and a shutout performance by goaltender Olle Eriksson Ek led the San Diego Gulls to a 4-0 win over the Ontario Reign Saturday night at Pechanga Arena. The loss marked the first time Ontario has been shutout during the 2021-22 season. Goaltender Matt Villalta got the start in net for the Reign and made 20 saves in a losing effort. Despite the defeat, Ontario remains in second place in the AHL’s Pacific Division with a points percentage of 0.716.

TYNAN AT THE TOP OF THE HEAP: Prior to Saturday’s loss in San Diego, forward TJ Tynan had posted multi-assist performances in five consecutive home contests, helping the Reign secure points in all five while taking over the AHL’s overall scoring lead with 74 points in 45 games. His assist total is 12 more than the next highest player, Chicago’s Andrew Poturalski, who is now right behind Tynan in scoring with 73 points. Tynan had also been on the scoresheet in 10 consecutive games, totaling 22 points during that stretch on three goals and 19 assists. The Orland Park, Ill. native has recorded two or more assists in 24 games this season and he also leads the league with 33 power play assists and 35 power play points.

FAST STRIKE FAGEMO: Forward Samuel Fagemo came up big for the Reign in the team’s most recent meeting with Bakersfield on Mar. 7, scoring the game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory at 5:27 of the third period. The unassisted marker came just 21 seconds after an equalizing tally by forward Martin Frk and was enough to give Ontario its fifth win over the Condors this season. Two nights later, Fagemo scored another big goal late to send a game vs. San Jose into overtime with his 19th tally of the season. The former second round selection by the LA Kings in 2019 is third on the team in goal scoring and ranks ninth in the AHL with a +18 rating. Fagemo made his NHL debut earlier this season, suiting up for four games with Ontario’s parent club in January.

SCOUTING THE CONDORS: After a slow start to the season, Bakersfield has seen more success since the calendar flipped to 2022 and is now in fourth place in the Pacific Division standings. The Condors’ offense is led by forward Seth Griffith, who has 55 points in 46 games on 20 goals and 35 assists. Cooper Marody is having another solid AHL season as well, posting 44 points in 40 games on 19 goals and 25 assists. Brad Malone recently returned from a recall by the Oilers and has chipped in with 31 points, while Adam Cracknell (26 points) has rejoined the club after playing for Team Canada last month at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. In goal, the Condors currently have Stuart Skinner and Ilya Konovalov on the roster. Skinner has starred when he’s been in the AHL this season, posting a 12-3-4 record in 20 games with a goals-against average of 2.17 and a save percentage at 0.922.

NEW FACES FOR THE REIGN: Ontario has had some shake-ups to its roster in the past two weeks due to injuries at the NHL level with the LA Kings that have seen as many as six players join the NHL club including Martin Frk, Rasmus Kupari, Jordan Spence, Austin Strand, Gabriel Vilardi and Christian Wolanin. Joining the roster as replacements have been forward Loren Ulett, who made his AHL debut on Saturday in San Diego, as well as defender Kevin Lohan, who also played in his first game for the Reign against the Gulls. Most recently, Ontario has signed defenseman Marcus McIvor to a PTO agreement for the second time this season and recalled forward Brett Kemp. McIvor suited up for four games with Ontario in January and has seen action in 46 contests with the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets, posting 22 points (5-17=22) and a +20 rating. While under contract with the Reign, Kemp has played 30 games for ECHL Greenville in his rookie pro season and posted 37 points on 17 goals and 20 assists.

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The Reign have a jam-packed month of home games during March at Toyota Arena, with nine total contests in their building. Ontario doesn’t leave California at all during the month, closing the next two weeks out with four more home games and a pair of trips to San Diego on Mar. 26 and San Jose on Mar. 30. The Reign have the best home record in the AHL this season through 26 games with a mark of 19-2-3-2 and a points percentage of 0.827. The team’s road record is no slouch either, earning a mark of 14-9-1-1 which is fourth in the league percentage-wise, and second in the Pacific Division.