With just one game to go before the AHL All-Star break, the Ontario Reign are making a serious statement in the Pacific Division. Under first-year head coach Andrew Lord, the Reign have surged to the top of the division and currently sit second overall in the Western Conference - a remarkable feat for a team still settling into a new coaching era.
Their latest win came on the road in Bakersfield, a hard-fought victory over the Condors that sets up a compelling rematch tonight at Toyota Arena. A win on home ice would not only give Ontario a tidy three-game winning streak heading into the break - something they've quietly made a habit of this season - but also allow them to maintain their narrow one-point lead over Colorado in the division race.
And here’s a stat that jumps off the page: Ontario is the first team in the Pacific to hit the 30-win mark. That’s not just a milestone - it’s a message. Lord has this group playing disciplined, structured hockey, and it’s paying off in the standings.
Digging into the numbers, the Reign are also getting it done on special teams. They’re tied with San Diego for the best penalty kill in the division, sitting at 84.2% heading into Saturday’s action. In a league where momentum can swing on a single power play, that kind of consistency is gold.
Lord’s impact goes beyond systems and stats - it’s also about feel. Take last night’s third-period adjustment, for example.
With the game in the balance, he swapped Glenn Gawdin and Kenny Connors between lines. It didn’t take long to pay off.
Gawdin buried a feed from Cole Guttman shortly after the change, a timely goal that underscored Lord’s growing reputation as a coach who knows when to pull the right levers.
That switch also reunited Connors with Andre Lee, Ontario’s leading goal scorer. The two were part of one of the Reign’s most dangerous lines earlier this season before Lee earned a call-up to Los Angeles. Now back in the AHL - and headed to the All-Star festivities in Illinois - Lee’s presence gives the Reign a proven finisher at a crucial time.
Another name heating up? Aatu Jamsen.
The Kings prospect is starting to look like the high-upside forward the organization hoped he’d become. After a quiet start to the year, Jamsen has now scored in back-to-back games and has four goals in his last six outings.
His latest tally came on a slick deflection of a Joe Hicketts shot from the left boards - the kind of net-front presence that shows he’s adjusting to the North American style.
Jamsen spoke after the game about the work he put in over the summer to prepare for this season. “After my first year in the U.S., that was hard,” he said.
“It’s a very different game than back in Europe. You need to battle more, and that’s what I worked on over the summer - getting ready to battle more this year.
That’s working right now.”
It’s showing. The 23-year-old Finnish winger now has 11 goals and 19 points on the season, and he’s starting to look more comfortable with each shift.
Between the pipes, veteran goaltender Pheonix Copley is expected to get the start tonight. He was sharp in his last outing, stopping 18 of 19 shots, and his steady presence gives Ontario a reliable last line of defense as they look to close out the pre-break schedule on a high note.
But not everything is clicking. One area to keep an eye on: third-period offense.
Despite the win in Bakersfield, Ontario managed just three shots on goal in the final frame. Over their last five games, they’ve registered only 15 third-period shots - a puzzling trend for a team that’s otherwise been so effective.
Whether it’s fatigue, game management, or simply situational play, it’s something the coaching staff will likely want to address.
Projected Lineup vs. Bakersfield Condors
Forwards:
- Alexandrov - Gawdin - Guttman
- Lee - Connors - Chromiak
- Jamsen - Pinelli - Wright
- Hughes - Lawrence - Doty
Defense:
- Hicketts - Millar
- Bolduc - Rego
- Kirsanov - Booth
Goaltenders:
- Copley (starter)
- Portillo
Scratches (expected): Brown, Ziemmer (F); Dvorak, Salin (D)
Recalled to LA: Ward
Injured: Burroughs
Game Info:
Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
PT at Toyota Arena. Fans can catch the action via FloSports or tune into the Reign radio feed for live coverage.
The Reign have one more chance to tighten their grip on the Pacific Division before the All-Star break. With a coach who’s pushing all the right buttons, a roster that’s finding chemistry, and young talent heating up at just the right time - this Ontario team is worth watching.