The Ontario Reign (5-3-0-0) will face the Henderson Silver Knights (4-3-0-0) on Wednesday, October 28, at 7:00 p.m. Pacific at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada, marking their second meeting of the 2023-24 American Hockey League season. Henderson won the first encounter 5-2 on October 17 at Toyota Arena.
Ontario enters the game concluding a three-game road trip and looking to extend its streak without back-to-back losses. The Reign recently split a two-game series in Cedar Park, but their penalty kill remains strong, going 4-for-4 in the last game and a perfect 6-for-6 against Henderson previously. However, their power play has struggled, with a 0-for-7 performance in the last outing and a season total of 6-for-36.
Key players for Ontario include Martin Chromiak, who was named AHL Player of the Week ending October 25 and leads the team with six goals, and Lane Pederson, who leads the team with 11 points. Cole Guttman and Kirill Kirsanov have also contributed points in their recent games. Goaltender Carter George, with a 2-0 record this season, is expected to make his first start against Henderson this year.
Henderson, coached by Joel Ward in his first season, is 3-2 at home and recently added defenseman Lukas Cormier after waivers clearance. Alexander Holtz, a significant offensive presence for Henderson, has scored four goals and accumulated eight points in five AHL games and recorded a goal and assist against Ontario in their previous meeting. Henderson will be without forward Jonas Røndbjerg, who was recalled by the Vegas Golden Knights.
The game can be followed via FloHockey for video, Reign Radio for audio, and live updates on Twitter through @ReignInsider and @OntarioReign.
CSB Take
The October 28 matchup is an important moment for the Ontario Reign to sustain their early-season resilience and avoid consecutive defeats. Special teams will be a critical battleground, with Ontario’s penalty kill tested against Henderson’s power play and key scorers like Alexander Holtz. A road victory would reinforce Ontario’s competitive position within the Pacific Division, while Henderson aims to capitalize on their home-ice environment under coach Joel Ward’s first season. This game is poised to feature impactful performances from several players and influence the trajectory of both squads in the early part of the AHL campaign.
Source: Original report
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