The Reign head into Texas tonight with a chance to keep building after a 3-2 comeback win over Calgary, but the challenge on the other side is hard to miss. Ontario sits at 4-2, while the Stars have stumbled out of the gate at 1-3-2 and are carrying major special teams problems into Game 1 of the back-to-back.
That matchup on the power play could matter early. Texas owns a 61.1 percent penalty kill, last in the AHL, and that gives the Reign a clear opening if they can draw whistles and cash in.
Ontario showed some progress in that area last time out, holding Calgary to just two power-play chances and killing both. The Reign also scored on one of their two man-advantage opportunities, a step in the right direction.
The bigger storyline, though, remains Ontario’s habit of playing from behind. The Reign trailed twice in that Calgary game before turning things around in the third period, and while the response was strong, that kind of script is not one you want to keep repeating over the course of a season.
Martin Chromiak was the difference Tuesday. He took over late, scoring both the tying goal and the go-ahead goal in the final frame to swing the game Ontario’s way. Through six games, the 24-year-old Slovak winger has four goals and one assist, and he’s already making the kind of impact that keeps NHL call-up talk humming.
In net, Erik Portillo is expected to get the start. He last played nine days ago against San Diego, when he stopped 25 of 27 shots in a winning effort.
Ontario’s projected lineup has Chromiak skating with Pederson and Wright on the top line, followed by Jamsen, Connors and Hughes; Pinelli, Guttman and Ziemmer; and Cihar, G. Slukynsky and Isogai. On defense, the pairs are Kirsanov and Perunovich, Booth and Brzustewicz, and Hicketts and Millar.
Likely scratches are Doty, Lawrence, Mastrodomenico and H. Slukynsky. Injured players listed are Jenik, Dvorak, Salin and Woolley.
In Other News...
Kings Keep Owning Long Island With Another Late Road Statement
The Kings continued their steady work on Long Island with another road win, this time grinding out a 3-2 overtime victory over the Islanders behind a heavy workload from Darcy Kuemper. The veteran goalie stopped 41 shots and backed up a team effort that kept Los Angeles in position to steal two points late, while the game also marked Peter Laviolettes return to the New York area, where he has coached both the Rangers and Islanders.
Los Angeles got the payoff in overtime from Brandt Clarke, a timely finish that fit the Kings recent knack for staying patient away from home and finding a way through in the third period or beyond. Artemi Panarin also had a major hand in the result with two goals against his former New York-area club, adding another layer to a game that was already carrying plenty of local intrigue for a Kings team that seems to keep leaving Long Island with a story worth retelling. [Read more 🡒]
Quinton Byfield's Slow Start Is Becoming A Real Kings Concern
Quinton Byfields early-season line has turned into one of the quieter concerns around the Kings as they try to sort out their footing in the 2026-27 campaign. He is part of a broader run of NHL scorers off to slower-than-expected starts despite meaningful ice time, and for Los Angeles that matters because Byfield is still one of the players they need to drive offense and help define what the forward group looks like going forward.
The bigger issue is not just the lack of goals, but the context around it as the Kings watch his role and production closely while trying to climb back into a better rhythm. When a top young center is still searching for traction early and the team is evaluating how pieces fit, every quiet night tends to feel a little louder, especially with roster decisions and overall results hanging over the group. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Have Early Call-Up Options Worth Watching Closely
The Kings early-season picture looked a little brighter after their Oct. 22 overtime win, with Brandt Clarke delivering the deciding goal and giving the club its second victory of the regular season. As the roster settles in, attention is already turning toward Ontario, where the AHL affiliate has become an important source of help if Los Angeles needs another boost up front or on the blue line.
Several young players have put themselves in the conversation for an NHL look, and the organization has reason to keep a close eye on what happens next. The Kings are not just looking for emergency depth here, but for potential contributors who can strengthen the roster while continuing to develop, which makes the coming stretch in Ontario worth watching from afar. [Read more 🡒]