REIGN PREVIEW 10/24 – Ontario at Abbotsford

WHO: Ontario Reign (2-1-1-0) at Abbotsford Canucks (2-2-0-0)
WHAT: AHL REGULAR-SEASON GAME #5
WHEN: Friday, October 24 @ 7:00 Pacific
WHERE: Abbotsford Centre – Abbotsford, BC
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: FloHockey – AUDIO: Reign Radio – TWITTER: @ReignInsider & @OntarioReign

TODAY’S MATCHUP: The Ontario Reign and Abbotsford Canucks square off in the first of eight total meetings this season, the first of four in Abbotsford at Abbotsford Centre. After collecting points in three of their first four games with a 2-1-1 record all on home ice to start the regular season, Ontario will play their next five games on the road in a nine-day span. Opposite from Ontario, Abbotsford played their first four games on the road to open the season and will now open a six-game homestand tonight. The Canucks lost back-to-back games lost back-to-back games last weekend in Laval after defeating Henderson twice the weekend before while the Reign are coming off a 3-2 win over Colorado last Sunday.

 PLAYERS TO WATCH: For the Reign, Glenn Gawdin is one point shy of 300 career AHL points. The Richmond, BC native led Ontario against Abbotsford last season with six points (2-4-6) in four meetings. For the Canucks, Danila Klimovich had an assist in back-to-back games to begin the season but has been held off the score sheet since. The Pinsk, Belarus native was drafted by Vancouver in the second round, 41^st overall, in the 2021 NHL Draft and is in his fifth season with Abbotsford.

 BETWEEN TWO PIPES: Erik Portillo of the Reign has started the first four games for Ontario having surrendered just two goals against in each of his last three contests making 65 saves on 71 shots. He turned aside 23 of 25 shots in Ontario’s 3-2 win over Colorado on Sunday. Pheonix Copley cleared waivers yesterday and was loaned to Ontario. He was placed on waivers by the Kings on Oct. 1 and was claimed by Tampa Bay the following day before being traded back to the Kings on Oct. 15. The Anchorage, AK native appeared in 42 games last season for the Reign posting a 24-17-1 record with a 2.49 goals-against average and .904 save percentage. His 24 victories were tied for the fourth-most among all league goaltenders. The Canucks have used three different goaltenders through their first three games. Nikita Tolopilo made 36 saves on 37 shots in a 2-1 win at Henderson on Oct. 10 and suffered the loss last Saturday turning aside 30 of 33 shots in a 5-2 defeat in Laval. Jiří Patera made 27 saves on 29 shots on Oct. 11 in a 4-2 win at Henderson while Ty Toung suffered the loss on Oct. 17 in Laval making 23 saves on 26 shots in a 3-0 defeat.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Abbotsford held the edge last season in the series winning three of four games, including both in Canada. Ontario tied a season high scoring eight goals against Abbotsford in the first meeting of the season on Nov. 6 where the Reign defeated the Canucks 8-4. The Canucks outscored the Reign 20-16 as Aatu Raty paced the way with eight points (1-7-8). Glenn Gawdin led the way for the Reign with six points (2-4-6). Erik Portillo was 1-1-0 in the series with a 4.08 goals-against average and .849 save percentage. He allowed four goals on 20 shots in his lone appearance on the road in a 5-2 loss on Jan. 15. Pheonix Copley was 0-2-0 with a 4.52 goals-against average and .824 save percentage. Nikita Tolopilo went 2-1-0 against the Reign holding a 4.53 goals-against average and .831 save percentage. He was chased out of the net on Nov. 6 allowing seven goals on 25 shots in 53:11 and was relieved by Jiří Patera who made four saves on four shots in 5:03.

COMING FROM BEHIND: Last Sunday the Reign trailed 2-1 heading into the third period vs. Colorado. Samuel Bolduc lifted the Reign to victory tying the game 38 seconds into the third period before providing the eventual game-winner at 5:40 on the power-play. For Bolduc, it was his third career multi-goal game in his 215^th AHL contest, and his first goal as an Ontario skater. The Reign were 4-16-1 when trailing after two periods last season.

ROAD WARRIORS: Tonight marks the first road game for the Reign of the 2025-26 season and the first of five straight away from Toyota Arena. From now until Nov. 15 the Reign will play 11 games including nine on the road. Last season Ontario was one of the best teams away from their own building finishing with the third most road victories in the AHL with a record of 23-12-1-0. They outscored their opponents 123-93 finishing with the best road power-play (33-for-126, 26.2%) and sixth on the penalty kill (97-for-114, 85.1%).

NORTH OF THE BOARDER: This evening is the first of three trips to Canada this season for the Reign. They will play in Calgary on Nov. 11/12 and in Abbotsford Feb. 14/16. Last season the club had three trips north of the boarder going 3-1-0 in Calgary and 0-2-0 in Abbotsford.

PUCKS TO THE NET: Ontario is last in the AHL averaging just 19.50 shots for per game having been kept to under 20 shots in three of their first four contests. However, the Reign are 8^th in the league allowing just 25.25 shots against per game.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY AN IMPACT: The Reign won the special teams battle this past Sunday in a 3-2 win over Colorado going 2-for-8 on the power-play and 5-for-5 on the penalty kill. Through four games they rank 18^th on the man advantage (4-for-22, 18.2%) having scored a man advantage goal in three of four games. They’re 21^st on the penalty kill (14-for-18, 77.8%) and their 24 minor penalties are the fifth most in the AHL.

SCOUTING THE CANUCKS: The Abbotsford Canucks defeated the Charlotte Checkers four games to two en route to capturing their first Calder Cup last season. During regular season they finished fifth in the Pacific Division with a 40-25-5-2 record finishing seventh with a goals for average of 3.25 and third on the penalty kill (221-for-260, 85.4%). Manny Malhotra is in his second season as head coach while forwards Danila Klimovich and Chase Wouters are back with the club for their fifth consecutive season.