Reign Ready for Rare Clash with Texas Stars After Gritty Win
Coming off a gutsy 4-3 win on Friday night, the Ontario Reign are back at it Sunday evening with a rare out-of-division matchup against the Texas Stars. This isn’t just another game on the calendar - it kicks off a four-game regular-season series between the two clubs, with the first two contests taking place at Toyota Arena before the action shifts to Texas later this season.
Last year’s series between these teams was evenly split, 2-2-0, with each side grabbing a win both at home and on the road. Overall, Ontario holds a 12-6-1 all-time record against the Stars, but given how infrequently these teams meet, there’s not much roster continuity to lean on. Still, there are a few names Reign fans will remember from last time out - and they’re worth watching again tonight.
Young Guns Making Noise
Kings prospects Franky Pinelli, Angus Booth, and Aatu Jämsen all found the back of the net against Texas last season, and their recent play suggests they’re ready to do it again. Jämsen, in particular, has been buzzing with the puck, and Pinelli continues to show flashes of the offensive upside that made him a standout in the Kings’ pipeline. Booth, meanwhile, has been a steady presence on the back end, and his ability to jump into the play adds another layer to Ontario’s attack.
Shot Volume Still a Work in Progress
If there’s one area where Ontario is still searching for consistency, it’s in the shot department. The Reign have been a low-volume shooting team for much of the season, and that trend continued Friday when they were outshot 38-16. But thanks to a rock-solid performance from veteran goaltender Pheonix Copley, they still walked away with the win.
Copley was dialed in Friday and will likely get the nod again tonight. He’s no stranger to the Stars, having faced them in all four games last season and posting a 2-2-0 record with a .915 save percentage. With a five-day break on the horizon, the Reign can comfortably lean on him again tonight knowing he’ll have time to rest and reset.
Chromiak Steps Up
Martin Chromiak quietly played a pivotal role in Friday’s win, registering two assists and bringing his season total to 14 points. He’s no stranger to producing against Texas either - he racked up three assists against the Stars last season. After taking a scary hit last week in Bakersfield, Chromiak’s quick return and immediate impact are a testament to his toughness and value to this lineup.
Injury Updates: Dvorak Returns
The Reign are getting some help on the blue line just in time. Jakub Dvorak, the Kings’ top draft pick in 2023, looks set to return after missing the last three games.
He was skating in Saturday’s practice and is expected to slot back into the lineup tonight. At 6-foot-5 (and that’s without skates), Dvorak brings size and reach that can be a real difference-maker, especially against a Texas team that likes to play with pace.
Still on the shelf are goaltender Erik Portillo and forward Kaleb Lawrence. Portillo is said to be improving and could be back in another week or two, while Lawrence remains out on a month-to-month basis. Also unavailable are Jacob Doty and Samuel Parker-Jones.
Projected Lineup vs. Texas Stars
Here’s how the Reign are expected to line up for tonight’s matchup:
Forwards:
- Ward - Thomas - Chromiak
- Jämsen - Gawdin - Guttman
- Lee - Connors - Wright
- Brown - Pinelli - Ziemmer
Defense:
- Hicketts - Dvorak
- Booth - Burroughs
- Kirsanov - Bolduc
Goaltenders:
- Copley (starter)
- Saville
Scratches (likely):
- Forwards: Hughes, Isogai
- Defensemen: Millar, Salin
Injured:
- Doty, Lawrence (month-to-month), Parker-Jones, Portillo
Puck Drop and Broadcast Info
Tonight’s game gets underway at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Fans can catch the action streaming live on FloSports, or tune in via the Reign’s radio feed for full coverage.
With momentum from Friday’s win and a few key players returning to the fold, Ontario has a real opportunity to build some traction heading into the December schedule. Texas won’t make it easy - but if the Reign can tighten up their shot generation and continue getting strong goaltending, they’ll be in a good spot to take control of this early-season series.