Wednesday night gives Andrew Lord and the Reign a chance to snap out of something they haven’t dealt with in a long time: a four-game losing streak. Ontario heads into its matchup with the San Jose Barracuda trying to steady itself after back-to-back losses last weekend and a wave of roster movement that has changed the look of the group.
The skid is notable because the Reign have been so strong over the past 18-plus months. They haven’t dropped four straight since Feb.
28-March 8, 2025, when they lost five in a row. Lord wasn’t behind the bench then.
He took over from Marco Sturm that summer and immediately pushed Ontario to a franchise-best point total last season and a Pacific Division title.
Now the task is to stop the slide, and the lineup should look a little different while they try to do it.
Tuesday brought a major shuffle. Taylor Ward was reassigned to Ontario, Kenny Connors was recalled to Los Angeles, and top goaltending prospect Hampton Slukynsky was sent to ECHL Greenville. That last move is the one that jumps off the page, especially with Ontario recently using a three-goalie rotation.
Those transactions came after 19-year-old forward Vojtech Cihar was reassigned to WHL Kelowna over the weekend. Back with the Rockets, he’s expected to get more regular ice time the rest of the season and play a key role for Czechia at next month’s World Junior Championship.
Even with all that turnover, Ontario still has plenty of talent to work with. The lineup remains deep enough to bring skill and physicality as the Reign try to climb out of the slump.
Ward’s return gives Lord another option up front, and Koehn Ziemmer has been trending the right way as well. The LA prospect has six points (4G, 2A) in 11 games this season and has continued to play with purpose since training camp opened.
Aatu Jamsen may be the most encouraging sign of all. The 24-year-old winger has found his rhythm, scoring in each of his last three games.
Last season, he put together a strong two-month run before an injury interrupted things, and now he looks to be back in form. For European players adjusting to the smaller North American ice and a different style, that kind of breakthrough can take time.
For Jamsen, year three appears to be the one where it’s all coming together.
The blue line should get a boost too, with 2025 first-rounder Henry Brzustewicz expected back in the lineup. He’s likely to skate alongside captain Joe Hicketts.
In goal, 20-year-old rookie Carter George is set for another start as he looks to settle into a more regular run over the coming month. In three appearances this season, he has a 2.31 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.
There’s also a little symmetry to the night: both the Kings and the Reign are hosting San Jose teams. Los Angeles gets the Sharks at Crypto.com Arena, while Ontario takes on San Jose’s AHL affiliate at Toyota Arena.
Projected lineup:
Jamsen - Pederson - Wright
Isogai - Guttman - Ward
Hughes - Pinelli - Ziemmer
Lawrence - G. Slukynsky - Doty
Kirsanov - Booth
Perunovich - Millar
Hicketts - Brzustewicz
George
Portillo
Likely scratches: (F) Gorman (D) Mastrodomenico
Injured: (F) Jenik (D) Dvorak, Salin, Woolley
A Reign radio feed is also available.
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Kings Send A Clear Message About Their Forward Depth Plan
The Kings continued to shuffle their forward group by recalling Kenny Connors from the AHLs Ontario Reign and sending Taylor Ward back down. Connors has already gotten a taste of the NHL in two games and has been productive in the minors, while Ward had appeared in four games for Los Angeles this season before the move.
The timing matters because the Kings are also expecting reinforcements soon, with Kevin Fiala and Alex Turcotte both nearing a return to the active roster. For a team trying to sort out its forward depth, this kind of transaction suggests the next few days could bring more movement as the lineup gets closer to full strength. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Turcotte Gives Kings Hope At A Brutal Time
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For a team trying to steady itself while the lineup keeps shifting, any healthy body matters, especially one with Turcottes upside. The Kings still do not have a set timetable for his return to game action, so this is only a checkpoint for now, but it is the kind of development that can help ease some of the pressure around a bruised roster. [Read more 🡒]