Déjà Vu in Ontario: Reign and Eagles Face Off Again with First Place on the Line
If it feels like we’ve been here before, it’s because we have - and not just metaphorically. The Ontario Reign and Colorado Eagles are back at it again, tied at 52 points apiece, and meeting under strikingly similar circumstances to just a week ago.
Same two teams, same high stakes, and once again, first place in the standings is on the line. This time, the setting shifts to Toyota Arena, but the intensity?
That’s staying right where it was.
Let’s rewind to the recent two-game set in Colorado. Ontario came out swinging in game one, taking care of business with a solid win.
But game two was a different beast. The Reign found themselves in a 3-0 hole early in the third period - a steep climb, especially on the road.
But this group doesn’t know how to quit. In less than 17 minutes, they erased that deficit with three unanswered goals, sparked by two from Nikita Alexandrov and another from rookie Kenny Connors.
The comeback forced overtime, and when that didn’t settle it, the Reign leaned on their shootout snipers. Connors and fellow Kings prospect Aatu Jämsen sealed the deal, grabbing a dramatic two points that could loom large down the stretch.
That resilience has become a calling card for head coach Andrew Lord’s squad. Just last night in Coachella Valley, they saw a late Firebirds goal send the game to overtime - and once again, Ontario responded with a quick strike to close out a 3-2 win.
That victory wrapped up a grueling six-game road trip, matching their longest of the season, with a 4-2-0 record. Not bad for a roster stacked with first- and second-year pros still finding their rhythm at the AHL level.
And now, they’re back home - at least for a little while - with a chance to settle in and keep building momentum.
Portillo’s Hot Streak Continues
Between the pipes, Erik Portillo continues to be a difference-maker. He stopped 32 shots last night, adding another win to what’s been an impressive run since returning from injury.
After being sidelined early in a game on November 12, Portillo has rattled off five straight victories since rejoining the lineup on January 4. That kind of consistency in net gives the Reign a major boost, especially with such a young core in front of him.
But with Portillo logging a full game last night, expect veteran Pheonix Copley to get the nod tonight. He was dialed in during last week’s shootout win in Colorado, turning aside 35 of 38 shots.
And he’ll need to be sharp again - this Eagles team knows how to generate high-danger chances. They outshot Ontario in both games last week, and if that trend continues, Copley’s workload could be heavy once more.
Areas for Growth as the Season Builds
While the Reign have shown they can win tight games and rally from behind, there’s still room for refinement. Coach Lord will likely want to see fewer shots against or more sustained offensive pressure moving forward. Relying on goaltending heroics every night isn’t a sustainable playoff formula - and with the postseason picture slowly coming into focus, tightening up defensively could be the next step in this team’s evolution.
Projected Lineup vs. Colorado Eagles
Here’s how Ontario is expected to line up tonight. As always, changes could come during warmups, but this is the look heading into puck drop:
Forwards
- Alexandrov - Gawdin - Chromiak
- Lee - Connors - Wright
- Pinelli - Brown - Guttman
- Jämsen - Lawrence - Doty
Defense
- Hicketts - Rego
- Dvorak - Bolduc
- Kirsanov - Booth
Goaltenders
- Copley (starter)
- Portillo
Scratches (likely): Forwards Hughes, Ziemmer; Defenseman Salin; Goaltender Saville
Recalled to LA: Ward
Injured: Burroughs, Millar
Game Details
Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m. PT at Toyota Arena. Fans can catch the action via FloSports or tune into the Reign radio broadcast for live coverage.
With first place on the line and a recent history of close, high-energy games between these two clubs, expect another thriller in Ontario. Déjà vu?
Maybe. But the Reign are hoping for a repeat of last week’s result - with a little less drama this time around.