Reign Projected Lineup vs. Eagles in First Place Battle

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The Reign, leading the AHL's Pacific Division with 78 points, host the second-place Colorado Eagles, who trail by just 4 points, in a crucial matchup at Toyota Arena in Ontario. Ontario has won 3 straight against Colorado and leads the season series 5-1, but will be without top scorers Nikita Alexandrov and Jared Wright. Rookie coach Andrew Lord has the Reign playing hot hockey, winning 7 straight, while Colorado has cooled off recently. Goalie Erik Portillo is expected to get the start for Ontario as they look to solidify their hold on first place.

Why it matters

This game is a key battle for first place in the AHL's Pacific Division, with high stakes as the playoffs approach. The Reign are looking to extend their lead over the second-place Eagles, while Colorado is hoping to close the gap. Ontario's recent success against their division rival makes this an important game in determining the division champion.

The details

The Reign have won 3 straight and 5 of 6 games against the Eagles this season, including a 2-game sweep in Colorado. However, Ontario will be without leading scorer Nikita Alexandrov, top rookie Jared Wright, and prospect Aatu Jamsen, all of whom are injured. Rookie coach Andrew Lord has guided the Reign to a 7-game winning streak, while Colorado has gone 4-4-2 in its last 10 games. Goalie Erik Portillo is expected to get the start for Ontario, potentially signaling a shift to him as the team's top netminder down the stretch.

• The Reign and Eagles are meeting for the 7th time this season, with only 1 game remaining in their 8-game season series.
• There are only 16 games remaining in the regular season before the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs begin.

What’s next

If the Reign win tonight, they will take a big step towards clinching the Pacific Division title and securing the top seed in the upcoming Calder Cup Playoffs.