Game Day Preview: KGN vs PBO
The Kingston Frontenacs will be back on the ice tonight at Leon’s Centre versus the Peterborough Petes at 7:00 pm. The game marks the first time the club will be back in action since a December 12 win over the Mississauga Steelheads.
Luca Caputi’s club will look to extend an OHL-best eight-game winning streak and add to their one-point lead in the Eastern Conference standings, facing a Petes team looking for their first win over the Fronts in the 2021-22 season. A Frontenacs win on December 2 in Peterborough was a wild affair that saw Kingston take a 5-0 lead before the Maroon and White stormed back with five unanswered goals of their own. Rookie Paul Ludwinski scored the eventual game-winner with eight minutes left to play for the 6-5 victory.
Lucas Edmonds had a goal and three points in that 6-5 win over Peterborough. The overage forward has accumulated 13 points (4G,9A) in the five games against the Petes this season and sits third overall in OHL points (52) but leads in points-per-game with a 2.08 average. He is the only player in the league to be above a two-point average per game.
Forward Zayde Wisdom will make his 2021-22 Frontenacs home debut after suiting up in Mississauga in the team’s last game. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect is returning from injury and will play his first game with Wright since the end of the 2019/20 season. “It means the world”, said the bruising power forward. “I am excited to get back with the boys. We have a good group of guys this year. I think we can go pretty far.”
Mason McTavish (ANA) returned to Peterborough before the holiday break and will be in the lineup for his second matchup with Canadian World Junior teammate Shane Wright. He had a goal in the 6-5 loss on December 2.
“We have a game plan and as long as we stack the deck, play the right way, we like our chances,” offered head coach Caputi after the team’s practice on Thursday. “It’s a lot of hockey after being off and to be away for a while, so we are just going to take it a period at a time.”
Assistant Captain Jake Murray is happy to get back. “It’s always nice to get back on the ice and nice to know the league is doing everything it can to keep us going.” On playing in his 150th career OHL game he says, “ It means a lot to me, and all those games have been with this franchise.”
Game Notes
- Shane Wright has points in three straight games (2G,6A)
- LA Kings prospect Martin Chromiak 12 points on an eight-game streak (6G,6A)
- Francesco Arcuri has goals in two straight with a pair of multi-point games. On a three-game point streak (3G,2A)
- Arcuri has four game-winning goals to lead Kingston, sitting one back of the league lead (tie five players), registering his 50th career point in 82 games yesterday
- Forward Zayde Wisdom (Philadelphia Flyers – 2020) activated and played in Mississauga in the team’s last game
- Last seven-game win streak for KGN – Feb/Mar 2016
- Jake Murray (17) and Lucas Peric (15) are both in the top-20 blueline scorers in the OHL
- Murray leads Fronts in plus / minus (+17), 8th overall amongst league defencemen
- Lucas Peric has five points (5A) in a three-game streak
- LA Kings prospect Martin Chromiak has points in eight (6G,6A)
- Forward Zayde Wisdom (Philadelphia Flyers – 2020 /4th Rd) made his 2021/22 OHL debut
Team Stat Pack – GP (25)
(17-5-3-0) – 37 points – Lead East Div by one / Four points behind Eastern Conf (NB)
.740 Winning percentage tops in OHL
Leaders (Top/3)
- Goals – Frasca (19), Edmonds, (17), Chromiak, Arcuri (13)
- Assists – Edmonds (35), Wright, Chromiak (19), Arcuri (18)
- Points – Edmonds (52), Frasca, (34), Chromiak (32)
- PIMs – Haché (40), Poole (31), Budnick (25)
- Shots– Edmonds (121), Chromiak (95), Wright (86)
- Powerplay Points – Edmonds (19), Chromiak (14), Wright (13)
- Rookie Points – Soto (16), Ludwinski (15), Thibodeau (7)
- Defence Points – Murray (18), Peric (16), Budnick (5)
On The Front
The Frontenacs next game is tomorrow night in the back end of a home and home with the Petes at 7:05 pm in Peterborough.
The next home game is Jan 14th versus the Sudbury Wolves on a TSN televised game.
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.
Fans can also catch the action on CHL App and YourTV.