Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Options Author
Solely a break within the schedule can decelerate the Ontario Reign lately.
After a uncommon Friday and Saturday off this weekend, the Reign resume this night when the San Jose Barracuda go to Toyota Area. And whereas they nonetheless sit sixth in what’s a deep Pacific Division subject, the Reign are solely 4 factors faraway from third place and maintain video games in hand on each different crew within the division. However that schedule will intensify significantly over the subsequent a number of weeks; at the moment’s assembly with the Barracuda begins a pre-holiday stretch wherein the Reign will host league-leading Calgary after which play a home-and-home collection with Coachella Valley.
After a 4-6-0-0 begin to the season, the Reign have gained eight of their final 10; in that span they’ve scored 38 targets and went six consecutive video games wherein that they had 4 or extra targets. Due to that surge in manufacturing, they now are fourth within the AHL with 3.55 targets per recreation. What’s extra is that they’ve managed that offensive output with an influence play that solely ranks twentieth within the AHL at 16.7 p.c.
A potent offense can change video games shortly. Final Sunday towards Bakersfield, the Reign trailed 3-2 midway by way of the third interval earlier than three targets in an 8:50 span turned that recreation right into a 5-3 win.
The Reign started this season lacking a number of prime energy sources from final season, and it confirmed early. Ahead prospects Akil Thomas and Alex Turcotte gained jobs with the Los Angeles Kings. So did elite defenseman Brandt Clarke, who took spots on the AHL All-Rookie Crew, AHL Second All-Star Crew, and AHL Prime Prospects Crew in 2023-24. T.J. Tynan departed for Colorado through free company.
Ontario scored simply eight targets over its first 5 video games to open this season. However roster fortunes are going Ontario’s method recently, beginning in internet with the Erik Portillo–Pheonix Copley tandem, each of whom have additionally seen time in Los Angeles on account of damage to Kings netminder Darcy Kuemper. Now that they’re again collectively, the pairing offers a prime prospect/veteran set-up for head coach Marco Sturm to make use of. The Reign even have Kings ahead Arthur Kaliyev again for the primary time since 2021; Kaliyev, who fractured his collarbone in coaching camp and has been out since September, has joined Ontario on a conditioning task.
A pair of offseason signings up entrance have additionally helped. Los Angeles plucked Glenn Gawdin from the Anaheim group in free company, and the seventh-year professional has put up 24 factors (9 targets, 15 assists) in 20 video games. Jeff Mallott, who spent the previous 4 seasons with the Manitoba Moose, has added 19 factors (three targets, 16 assists).
After which there may be Samuel Fagemo, one of many AHL’s most harmful snipers. Fagemo can pile up targets shortly utilizing his elite choice of photographs; he scored a exceptional 43 targets in 50 video games for the Reign final season. He went scoreless in his first six video games this season, however has since collected 11 targets in 14 contests. If Fagemo is scorching, that spells vital hassle for opponents.
A head coach isn’t fairly happy, and any scorching crew desires to maintain taking part in as a lot as potential. However it’s December, which implies loads of off-ice actions. The crew’s vacation social gathering occurred after final Sunday’s win, and there was a household social gathering to start this week as effectively. This current run of success made these events that a lot sweeter.
“[The holiday season is] far more enjoyable,” Sturm advised the crew web site, “once you’re on a successful streak.”
On the American Hockey League beat for 20 years, TheAHL.com options author Patrick Williams additionally at present covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is an everyday contributor on SiriusXM NHL Community Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his excellent protection of the league in 2016.
