As the Ontario Reign return to the familiar confines of Toyota Arena this afternoon for a matchup with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, there’s a lot more than just home ice working in their favor - even after a gut-punch loss in San Diego last night.
Let’s start with the basics: Ontario’s been a force at home this season. Their 15-4-1-1 record on home ice isn’t just solid - it’s among the best in the AHL. That kind of dominance builds confidence, and it’s no stretch to say the Reign will be looking to channel that energy as they try to bounce back.
And bouncing back is something this group has done well all year. Ontario has only dropped back-to-back games twice all season - a testament to their resilience and consistency. That kind of track record matters, especially coming off a loss that stung as much as last night’s did.
Now, add in this: the Reign are 2-0 against Coachella Valley this season. But don’t let that stat fool you into thinking this one’s a lock.
Both of those wins were battles - the kind of games that test a team’s mettle. The Firebirds are tough, and they’ve made the Reign earn every inch in this matchup.
In their first meeting of the season, it was rookie defenseman Kirill Kirsanov who played the hero. He buried the game-winner late in the third period, capping a comeback that showed just how dangerous this Ontario team can be when it’s clicking.
That goal stood as his last point for 11 straight games - until last night, when he broke the drought with a pair of assists in San Diego. That’s the kind of breakout performance that can reignite a young player’s confidence.
The second game against Coachella Valley? Even grittier.
Ontario was outshot 34-17 but found a way to grind out an overtime win. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective - and it said a lot about this team’s ability to weather pressure and still come out on top.
But to do that again today, the Reign will need to clean up what went wrong in the third period last night. That final frame in San Diego was rough.
Ontario was outshot 19-2, gave up two separate leads, and surrendered the game-winner with just 17 seconds left on the clock. That’s the kind of finish that leaves a mark - and it’s exactly the kind of thing they’ll need to shake off quickly.
The loss didn’t just sting emotionally - it had standings implications too. With Colorado picking up a win over Tucson, Ontario slid to second place in the Pacific Division. Not a crisis by any means, but it adds a little extra urgency heading into today’s game.
There is, however, a bright spot in the crease. Kings prospect Erik Portillo is expected to get the start, and he’s been outstanding since returning from injury.
After missing 16 games, Portillo has rattled off six straight wins. Add in the four he had before going down, and he’s riding a 10-game personal win streak.
That kind of stability in net can be a game-changer - especially against a team like the Firebirds, who know how to test goaltenders.
Here’s how the Reign are expected to line up this afternoon:
Projected Forward Lines:
- Lee - Gawdin - Chromiak
- Alexandrov - Brown - Guttman
- Jamsen - Pinelli - Wright
- Ziemmer - Lawrence - Hughes
Projected Defensive Pairings:
- Hicketts - Salin
- Dvorak - Bolduc
- Kirsanov - Booth
Goaltenders:
- Portillo (starter)
- Copley
Likely scratches: Forward Doty, defenseman Rego
Recalled to LA: Connors, Ward
Injured: Burroughs, Millar
This one’s shaping up to be another tight, physical contest - exactly what you’d expect when these two teams meet. Ontario has the tools to take care of business, especially with Portillo back between the pipes and a strong track record at home. But they’ll need to bring a full 60-minute effort to make it happen.