REIGN PREVIEW – Ontario vs. Grand Rapids, 3/27

WHO: Ontario Reign (34-14-4-3) vs. Grand Rapids Griffins (27-27-5-2)
WHAT: AHL REGULAR-SEASON GAME #56
WHEN: Sunday, March 27 @ 3:00 PM Pacific
WHERE: Toyota Arena – Ontario, CA
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: AHLTV – AUDIO: Mixlr – TWITTER: @ShafReign & @ontarioreign

 

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Ontario Reign close out their four-game season series against the Grand Rapids Griffins Sunday afternoon at Toyota Arena. The Reign have won two of the first three meetings as the teams’ previously split a two-game set in Michigan Feb. 4-5 and Ontario claimed a 6-2 decision at home five days ago on Tuesday. All-time, the Reign have won four of five contests with the Griffins including two meetings during the 2018-19 campaign. Ontario is in second place in the Pacific Division standings with a points percentage of 0.682, while Grand Rapids sits in fifth in the Central Division (0.500).

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Despite managing just one tally on Saturday in San Diego, the Reign continue to be the highest-scoring team in the AHL, leading the league with an average of 3.89 goals per game. The Griffins came from behind with a goal in the final minute of regulation to beat the Bakersfield Condors in overtime Saturday night by a 4-3 score. Ontario’s power play is also No. 1 in the AHL, converting on 26% of their opportunities. While the Griffins have struggled on the man-advantage this season, scoring on just 14.7% of their opportunities, they’ve found the back of the net three times in 13 chances in their previous three games against Ontario (23%).

LAST TIME OUT: The San Diego Gulls used a pair of first period goals to take an early lead and got 42 saves from goaltender Olle Eriksson Ek to earn a 5-1 win over the Ontario Reign on Saturday night at Pechanga Arena. In a losing effort, Ontario held a shots-on-goal edge of 43-26 in the game, including a season-high for shots in a period with 19 in the second. Forward Akil Thomas had the lone goal for the Reign, scoring his first tally of the season during a 5-on-3 power play in the opening period. Ontario remains in second place in the AHL’s Pacific Division with a points percentage of 0.682.

PLAYOFF BOUND: By officially clinching their position in the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs, the Reign solidified that postseason games will be played in Ontario for the first time since April of 2018. The Reign’s most recent appearance in the Calder Cup Playoffs featured a four-game series with the Texas Stars that ended Ontario’s season. The final two contests were played at Toyota Arena and were both one-goal defeats for the Reign as they lost 5-2 in double overtime before bowing out with a 1-0 loss in Game 4. Ontario also had playoff appearances in 2016 and 2017, their first two seasons as an AHL franchise. 2016 saw the club advance to the third round with series wins over San Jose and San Diego before falling to Lake Erie, while 2017 featured a first round loss to the Gulls in five games. The Reign have a magic number of 17 points to clinch home ice for their opening round series which will begin the first week of May.

TYNAN TURNS ON THE HEAT: Forward TJ Tynan had a big night in Tuesday’s win over Grand Rapids, scoring four points for the third time in a game this season with two goals and two assists. Tynan followed that up with another assist on Saturday in San Diego to increase his season scoring total to 80 points in 49 games this season. The Orland Park, Ill. native has already set a career-high in points and assists, and is currently in a tie for first in the AHL scoring race with Chicago’s Andrew Poturalski. Tynan’s points per game average of 1.63 leads the league, and he’s also first in assists, power play assists (34) and power play points (36). Tynan’s previous streak of nine straight road games with a point from Oct. 29 to Jan. 27 is still the longest run in the AHL this season.

SCOUTING THE GRIFFINS: Grand Rapids is currently in fifth place in the AHL’s Central Division with 61 points and a points percentage at 0.500 with 15 games remaining on their 2021-22 schedule. Forward Tanner Hirose leads the club with 45 points in 52 games on 14 goals and 31 assists. Turner Elson leads the team in goal scoring, posting 18 tallies and 37 points in 60 games. Rookie Jonatan Berggren is also having a big season and ranks second on the team with 42 points in 55 games on 14 goals and 28 assists. Defender Ryan Murphy is the team’s highest scoring skater on the back end with 29 points but is currently out of the lineup due to injury. Rookie blueliner Jared McIssac has also pitched in offensively with 22 points from five goals and 17 assists in 60 games. Goaltender Calvin Pickard has led the way in net, but a recent call-up to Detroit has left the team with Victor Brattstrom and Kaden Fulcher as options between the pipes. Brattstrom has played in 19 AHL games this season and has a 3.54 goals-against average.

NEW FACES FOR THE REIGN: Ontario has had some shake-ups to its roster over 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. Recent new additions to the Ontario roster started with forward Taylor Ward, who signed with the Kings for 2022-23 before making his pro debut with the Reign last Sunday and posted three assists in Tuesday’s win over Grand Rapids. Next was defenseman Thomas Hickey, who joined the Reign on loan from the New York Islanders and recorded assists in each of his first two contests with Ontario. Then the Kings made a pair of deals during Monday’s trading deadline that added defenders Frederic Allard and Nelson Nogier to the team’s blueline. Both acquisitions made their debut on Tuesday and have played 244 games at the AHL level in their pro careers. Most recently, the Reign signed forward Alex Ierullo to an ATO Friday after the attacker completed a four-year collegiate career at Bemidji State University.

TIME FOR THOMAS: Forward Akil Thomas found the back of the net for the first time this season on Saturday night in San Diego, helping Ontario convert on a 5-on-3 power play opportunity. Thomas has had to battle back from two injuries this year and was a welcome addition to the scoresheet after finishing his rookie campaign during 2020-21 with 26 points on 11 goals and 15 assists in 40 games. A native of Toronto, Ont., Thomas was selected by the Kings in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft.