The Ontario Reign faced a tough challenge in Iowa, falling 4-1 to the Wild on Friday night. This marks a rough patch for head coach Andrew Lord's squad, who've dropped four of their last five games. Their only recent victory came against the struggling Abbotsford Canucks.
A big concern is the Reign's power play, which has gone ice cold. Once ranked eighth in the AHL, they're now 0-for-15 over the last seven games. With the playoffs looming, this is a trend they need to reverse quickly.
Despite the recent struggles, the Reign still hold the top spot in the Pacific Division. Last night’s game saw a glimpse of their usual form in the final ten minutes, capped by Franky Pinelli's goal with five minutes left in regulation.
Looking ahead, we might see some lineup changes for the rematch. Coach Lord adjusted the lines in the third period, and those changes are reflected in today's projected lineup. Pheonix Copley is set to start, aiming for his fifth win in six games.
On the roster front, the Reign have added defenseman Michael Mastrodomenico on an ATO contract. Fresh from Notre Dame, where he served as co-captain, the 21-year-old right-shot D-man stands at six feet tall and is poised to make his AHL debut soon.
Projected Lineup vs. Wild:
- Forwards: Lee - Gawdin - Chromiak Alexandrov - Connors - Guttman Brown - Pinelli - Jenik Ziemmer - Hughes - Doty
- Defense: Kirsanov - Booth Novikov - Millar Hicketts - Salin
- Goaltenders: Copley (starter) Portillo
Likely Scratches: Forward Isogai and defenseman Dvorak
Injured: Burroughs, Jamsen
Recalled to NHL: Wright
Keep an eye out for any last-minute changes during pregame warmups. The Reign will be looking to bounce back and regain their winning form.