Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Options Author
Solely a break within the schedule can decelerate the Ontario Reign as of late.
After a uncommon Friday and Saturday off this weekend, the Reign resume this night when the San Jose Barracuda go to Toyota Enviornment. And whereas they nonetheless sit sixth in what’s a deep Pacific Division discipline, the Reign are solely 4 factors faraway from third place and maintain video games in hand on each different staff within the division. However that schedule will intensify significantly over the following a number of weeks; as we speak’s assembly with the Barracuda begins a pre-holiday stretch through which 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 objectives and went six consecutive video games through which they’d 4 or extra objectives. Because of that surge in manufacturing, they now are fourth within the AHL with 3.55 objectives per sport. 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 %.
A potent offense can change video games shortly. Final Sunday in opposition to Bakersfield, the Reign trailed 3-2 midway by way of the third interval earlier than three objectives in an 8:50 span turned that sport right into a 5-3 win.
The Reign started this season lacking a number of high 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 Staff, AHL Second All-Star Staff, and AHL High Prospects Staff in 2023-24. T.J. Tynan departed for Colorado by way of free company.
Ontario scored simply eight objectives over its first 5 video games to open this season. However roster fortunes are going Ontario’s means currently, beginning in web with the Erik Portillo–Pheonix Copley tandem, each of whom have additionally seen time in Los Angeles because of harm to Kings netminder Darcy Kuemper. Now that they’re again collectively, the pairing offers a high 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 project.
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 objectives, 15 assists) in 20 video games. Jeff Mallott, who spent the previous 4 seasons with the Manitoba Moose, has added 19 factors (three objectives, 16 assists).
After which there’s Samuel Fagemo, one of many AHL’s most harmful snipers. Fagemo can pile up objectives shortly utilizing his elite choice of pictures; he scored a exceptional 43 objectives 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 objectives in 14 contests. If Fagemo is scorching, that spells important hassle for opponents.
A head coach isn’t fairly happy, and any scorching staff desires to maintain enjoying as a lot as potential. But it surely’s December, which implies loads of off-ice actions. The staff’s vacation celebration occurred after final Sunday’s win, and there was a household celebration to start this week as properly. This current run of success made these events that a lot sweeter.
“[The holiday season is] far more enjoyable,” Sturm informed the staff web site, “while you’re on a profitable streak.”
On the American Hockey League beat for twenty 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.
