Ontario Reign @ Abbotsford: Preview, Reign Drops, Broadcast Info

After a dominant win last night, the Ontario Reign will look to keep their hot start going when they face-off against the Abbotsford Canucks for a second straight night.

Top Performers

TJ Tynan picked up two more assists last night, giving him a team-high – and tied for the AHL lead – with eight. Those eight points also lead the Reign. Three forwards are tied for the team lead in goals as Martin Frk, Samuel Fagemo and Brayden Burke each have three apiece.

Sean Durzi’s two goals last night put him in the lead in goals (2), assists (4) and points (6) among Ontario defensemen.

Matt Villalta is now 4-0 with a 1.99 goals-against average and .924 save percentage. I’d expect Garret Sparks to get the nod tonight. He made 35 saves in his lone start this season, a 3-2 win against the Bakersfield Condors.

For Abbotsford, former Reign Sheldon Rempal picked up two assists last night, he leads the team in assists (6) and is tied in points (6). Sheldon Dries added to his goal tally with two last night. That gives him a team-lead four on the season.

Michael DiPietro is expected to start tonight after Artus Silvos went last night. DiPietro didn’t fare too well against the Reign earlier this season, allowing four goals on 30 shots in the 4-3 loss. Overall, DiPietro is 1-1-1 with a 3.27 goals-against average and a .882 save percentage.

Special Teams

With their two goals last night, Ontario is now 8-for-30 on the power play (26.7%). Frk and Burke lead in goals with the man advantage (2), while Tynan leads in assists (5) and points (5).

On the penalty kill, the Reign have killed 14-of-19 (73.7%).

For Abbotsford, they are 4-for-21 (19%) on the power-play. Dries leads in goals (2) and is tied in points with Rempal (2). They have killed 24-of-29, good for 82.8% on the PK.

Shot Attempts

In the three games against Abbotsford, the Reign have controlled the vast majority of the play:

Reign Drops

• Do you think Sean Durzi was hoping for a call-up? Four points last night will turn some heads.
• It’ll be the first opportunity for Helge Grans to play back-to-back nights at the AHL level. He was strong again last night.
• With 11 points, the Reing are tops in the entire AHL. They are one of just two teams (Stockton Heat) in the Western Conference without a regulation loss.
• Ontario is second in the AHL (Laval Rocket) in goals with 25.
• The Reign could continue to see some power-play opportunities, Abbotsford has a Western Conference high 82 penalty minutes (Ontario is second with 74).

Puck Drop and Broadcast Info

• Saturday, October 30 at 7:00 p.m. P.T.
  TV: AHLTV

Takeaways from the Ontario Reign’s 5-2 win over the Abbotsford Canucks