Coming off a statement sweep in Colorado - their first ever in franchise history - the Ontario Reign are rolling into Texas with momentum and confidence. Head coach Andrew Lord has his squad clicking at the right time, and now they’re set for a two-game weekend showdown with the Texas Stars in Cedar Park.
Let’s rewind for a second. The Reign didn’t just win in Colorado - they climbed to the top of the Pacific Division in the process. Sure, the Eagles still hold a few games in hand, but for now, Ontario sits in the driver’s seat, and that’s no small feat in a division stacked with talent.
Meanwhile, the Stars are back home licking their wounds after a tough California road swing that ended with them getting swept by Coachella Valley. It’s been a rough stretch for Texas, and they’ll be eager to steady the ship in front of their home crowd.
This matchup doesn’t come around often, with the AHL’s schedule typically keeping teams locked into divisional play. But when Ontario and Texas do meet, there’s always a little extra juice.
These two have history - and not the friendly kind. Flashback to 2018, when the Stars bounced the Reign from the Calder Cup Playoffs.
That sting hasn’t faded, and every meeting since has carried a little extra edge.
Last season, the series was as even as it gets - a 2-2 split, with each team going 1-1 at home and on the road. And this year is already following a similar script. The teams have met twice so far, both in Ontario, and each walked away with a win.
In their most recent clash, a few of the Kings’ top prospects made their presence felt in a big way. Rookie Kenny Connors led the charge with two goals, earning second-star honors in a 6-3 Reign victory.
Martin Chromiak - who’s been red hot lately - opened the scoring in that one, and continued his tear with three primary assists in Wednesday’s comeback win in Colorado. The 23-year-old winger now has eight points in his last seven games, and he’s quickly becoming a name to watch for fans keeping tabs on the Kings’ pipeline.
Angus Booth and Jared Wright also had strong showings in that last meeting with Texas, each picking up a pair of assists. For a Reign team that’s leaned heavily on its youth this season, those contributions are exactly what the organization wants to see.
As for tonight’s lineup, don’t expect many changes from Lord. Forward Koehn Ziemmer could slot back in, and the big storyline in net is Erik Portillo, who’s expected to get his first career start against the Stars. The 6-foot-6 netminder has been solid in his AHL action so far, and this will be a good test against a Texas team looking to bounce back.
With the Kings struggling to find consistency at the NHL level, the spotlight on Ontario has only intensified. There’s a growing sense that opportunities are coming for those who earn them. For the prospects down in the AHL, this isn’t just another weekend series - it’s a chance to make a statement.
Projected Ontario Reign Lineup vs. Texas Stars
Forwards:
- Alexandrov - Gawdin - Guttman
- Chromiak - Connors - Wright
- Hughes - Pinelli - Jamsen
- Ziemmer - Lawrence - Doty
Defense:
- Hicketts - Rego
- Dvorak - Bolduc
- Kirsanov - Booth
Goaltenders:
- Erik Portillo (starter)
- Copley
Scratches (expected):
- Forwards: Brown, Isogai
- Defense: Salin
Injured:
- Burroughs, Millar
Recalled to LA:
- Lee, Ward
Game Info:
Puck drops at 5:00 p.m.
Pacific Time. You can catch the action streaming on FloSports, or tune in via the Reign’s radio feed.
With playoff races heating up and NHL opportunities looming, every shift matters. And tonight in Texas, the Reign’s young core has another chance to prove they’re ready for the next step.