Game Day Preview: KGN vs BAR

The CHL’s 10^th ranked Kingston Frontenacs (30-14-3-0) look for a third straight win, will face the Barrie Colts (23-18-4-0) tonight. Tonight is game two of a five-game road schedule that sees the Black and Gold make their second northern Ontario swing. Tonight’s match is the first of three games in four days for coach Luca Caputi’s squad. The Fronts will look to get back atop the East Division standings. With a comfortable 10-point lead on third-place Oshawa (with three fewer games played), Kingston can’t become complacent, keeping pace with Hamilton Bulldogs with a five-point lead in the East Division standings heading into Thursday’s action.

Luca Caputi is confident his crew is prepared for the northern swing. “We’ve been playing a lot of hockey, so we focused on our game and specific needs and improvements to have success tomorrow night,” the first-year coach said on Thursday. “It’s a tough road trip; we’ll focus on the first period and starting properly. Every game is important this time of year. We need to put ourselves in a good spot to be in the thick of things. Now, we need to push forward and have a playoff mentality every time we step on the ice. Just as much as the structure is important, the way we approach the game is just as important.”

Barrie has dropped three straight and seven of their last 10, sitting third in the Central Division behind Mississauga and Kingston’s upcoming Sunday opponent in North Bay. In their previous game, the Colts lost 8-5 in Sudbury to Kingston’s opponent tomorrow night (Friday). The Fronts beat Barrie 5-2 on February 3 in the last matchup between the East Conference foes, also played at Sadlon Arena. After Kingston took a 5-0 lead, two third-period goals by Barrie were the only pucks to beat Leevi Merilainen in a 32-save win for his 19^th victory. In the second period, defenceman Braden Hache scored his first career game-winning goal that saw Kingston score three times with a 19-9 shot advantage in the middle frame. First Star Shane Wright had a goal and an assist joining Francesco Arcuri (1G,1A) and Alec Belanger (2A), registering multi-point games, respectively. Hunter Haight(1G,1A) registered a multi-point game in the loss for Barrie.

Kingston defender Thomas Budnick knows the Fronts need to continue to develop consistency against good teams. “Win or lose; we need to leave it all out there and play hard,” he said at Thursday’s practice. “Being able to count on each other and bring it every night. All three (games) will be a test this weekend to challenge our character and compete level.”

 

Special Teams Battle

Barrie only scored once on a six man-advantage opportunity during the 5-2 loss to Kingston back on February 3. Coach Caputi’s squads’ chances increase significantly for a second win over Barrie with a reduction in opportunities for a Barrie powerplay sitting first-overall in the Eastern Conference heading into tonight’s game. The Colts’ 25.8% efficiency rate is third-overall in the OHL, testing the Frontenacs (76.4%) 14^th ranked penalty-kill. The Fronts have done an excellent job during a current three-game winning streak allowing only one goal on eight opportunities against.

 

Dig Deep

Kingston has five skaters with 50-plus points, giving them a heavy offensive depth advantage on the Colts. Lucas Edmonds, Jordan Frasca, Shane Wright, Francesco Arcuri, and Martin Chromiak have all surpassed the mid-century mark, with Barrie’s Brandt Clarke the Colts’ only member joining them. Edmonds (83), Frasca (65), Wright (62) and Arcuri (57) give Kingston the only team in the OHL with four players in the Top-20 point totals.

Edmonds, Frasca and Arcuri have been Kingston’s most consistent line all season. Recent Pittsburgh Penguins signee Frasca (9G,11A) and Dallas Stars prospect Arcuri (8G,11A) have points in 10 of 12, with Edmonds missing the scorecard just once in 12 (7G,16A).

Kingston also has five twenty-goal scorers, with Barrie having Hunter Haight and Beau Jelsma closest to the mark with 19, respectively. The Black and Gold’s “third” line consists of two first-round OHL selections (Ludwisnki, Soto) and a double-digit goal scorer in Maddox Callens. Kingston’s rookie-point leader Ludwinski has been happy with his lines’ contributions. “We are one of the younger lines on the team,” he says. “But, I think being together, we build chemistry in practice from breakouts and three-on-twos. I think we are the motor of the team; we build a lot of momentum. Calli (Maddox Callens) and (Matthew) Soto are two skilled guys and they can get to spots.

Ludwinski and Soto teamed up to assist on Haché’s game-winner in the win over Barrie on February 3. “We shut guys down trying to be a tough line to play against,” continued Ludwinski on this years’ success. “All these teams are in the hunt for a spot and they are all going to be coming for us, but from this point on every point matters. We want to get home-ice for the playoffs.”

 

Special Teams

Powerplays

KGN – 24.9% (4^th Eastern Conf / 6^th OHL)

BAR – 25.8% (1^st Eastern Conf /3^rd OHL)

Penalty Kill

KGN – 76.4% (6^th Eastern Conf /14^th OHL)

BAR – 78.5% (5^th Eastern Conf/ 12^th  OHL)

 

Fronts Notes:

• Kingston one of two teams (North Bay) with three (Edmonds, Frasca, Wright) scorers in OHL’s Top-20 for points
• Fronts have five 20-goal / 50-point scorers (Frasca, Edmonds, Arcuri, Chromiak, Wright)
• Lucas Edmonds 3^rd OHL pts -83, 1^st OHL assists (57), 1^st OHL PP assists (24), 4^th OHL shots (207)
• Jordan Frasca (32) 5^th OHL goals (one of 11 players with 30+ goals) – 13 PPG’s 2^nd most in OHL – Signed with NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins this week
• Frasca’s younger brother Jacob has been out with an injury for Barrie since Jan 20; the pair have not skated against each other this season.
• Francesco Arcuri points in 14 of last 17 games (12G,12A)
• Defenceman Quinton Burns returned from suspension last game (8-gms)
• Lucas Peric 6th in OHL goals by defencemen (11), T-2nd Powerplay goals (5), 17th overall blueline pts (30)

 

Team Stat Pack – GP (47)

(30-14-3-0) 63 pts (2^nd East Div / 4^th Eastern Conf / 6^th most pts OHL)

.670 winning percentage (2^nd Eastern Conf /  3^rd OHL)

  Leaders

• Goals – Frasca (32), Arcuri, Edmonds (26), Chromiak (22)
• Assists – Edmonds (57), Wright (41), Frasca (33)
• Points – Edmonds (83), Frasca (65), Wright (62)
• PIMs – Haché (63), Poole, Stewart (44), Budnick (43)

• Shots– Edmonds (207), Wright (167), Frasca (165)

• Powerplay Points – Edmonds (29), Frasca, Wright (21)

• Rookie Points – Ludwinski (28), Soto (22), Thibodeau (9)
• Defence Points – Peric (30), Murray (25), Bélanger (13)
• Plus/Minus – Frasca (+29), Edmonds (+22), Murray (+21)

 

Get Your Jersey

The Kingston Frontenacs are auctioning off our 2021-22 game-worn CADPAT jerseys. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to Military Veteran Program Plus and the Kingston Military Family Resource Centre (KMFRC).

Auction: https://web.dashapp.io/event/62167a1320144bccbf98286c The auction closes on Monday, Mar 7 at 5:00 pm

 

On The Front

Kingston is currently on a five-game road schedule with two more games this weekend. After the Black and Gold wrap-up back-to-back nights in Sudbury on Friday, the second northern road swing wraps up in Fronts point leader Lucas Edmonds’ hometown in North Bay on Sunday versus the Battalion.

One more game in Peterborough on March 10 before returning to the Limestone City on Friday, March 11 against the Oshawa Generals. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.ca or the venue box office. The Capacity at Leon’s Centre is now at 100%. Get your tickets online at Ticketmaster.ca or at the venue box office.

Listen to all the action on 104.3 Fresh Radio with Frontenacs play-by-play voice Jim Gilchrist. Fans can also follow along with team social media channels at Twitter, Facebook and IG for updates. Watch the games on YourTV Kingston (channel 700) or CHL TV/OHL Live.