Game Day Preview: KGN vs NIAG

The Kingston Frontenacs (32-17-3-0) take on the Niagara IceDogs (15-33-2-1) this afternoon at 2:00 pm for another themed Sunday Funday event. The Frontenacs have won consecutive games after a three-game losing stretch and need to continue the drive to keep pace with idle Division leader Hamilton, who have a nine-point lead with one game in hand.

The IceDogs have had a frustrating season and come into today’s action on a two-game winless streak and one win in their last seven. The offensively challenged group has scored the second-lowest goal total (158) in the OHL, facing a Fronts team with the sixth-most goals in the league (217). With a 4-18-2-1 away from home, Niagara is a team the Fronts should take care of with 18 of 29 wins on Leon’s Centre ice. The Fronts have a 2-0-0-0 record over Niagara, including a 6-2 win in Kingston’s last matchup on Jan 22 that had the Fronts jump out to a four-goal lead on the way to the win. Rookie goalie Aidan Spooner earning the win on a 26 save performance. The 52 shots by Kingston in the win was a season high.

Martin Chromiak had two goals in the last game against Niagara, earning First Star and entering action today on a seven-game point streak (6G,8A) with four points (2G,2A) in the season series with Niagara. Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Jordan Frasca leads all Kingston shooters with four goals on the IceDogs this year, tied with Lucas Edmonds with six points for the team lead in games with Niagara.

IceDogs Daniel Gushchin has a league-leading five-game goal streak while on a stretch that has seen the forward total 31 points on a 17 game (17G,14A) streak. He is one of 16 players over the thirty-goal mark (32) and will need to be watched closely by Luca Caputi’s squad. The import selection has those 32 goals in just 37 games played and has notched two points (1G,1A) on Kingston this season.

 

Special Teams

Powerplay

KGN – 26.3% (2^nd OHL, 1^st Eastern Conf) –  (6/26 in season-series versus Gens – 23.1%)

NIA – 24.7% (11^th OHL, 7^th Eastern Conf) – (4/27 in season-series versus Frontenacs – 24.8%)

Penalty Kill

KGN – 76.7% (14^th OHL, 6^th Eastern Conf)

NIA – 72.6% (20^th OHL, 10^th Eastern Conf)

 

Fronts Notes:

• Zayde Wisdom is playing in his 15oth career OHL game today.
• Lucas Edmonds – 3^rd OHL pts – 92, T-1^st assists (64), 1^st OHL PP assists (28), 4^th OHL shots (221)
• Edmonds seven-game point streak (4G,9A), points in 16 of last 17 (9G,23A)
• Jordan Frasca (36) – T-3^rd OHL goals (one of 16 players with 30+ goals) – 16 PPG’s 2^nd most in OHL – Signed with NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins last week
• Frasca six-game point streak (4G,7A)
• Martin Chromiak seven-game point streak (6G,8A) – began versus OSH Feb 25
• Francesco Arcuri points in 17 of last 21 games (13G,16A)
• D Braden Hache – day-to-day
• Shane Wright last 9 games (4G,12A)

 

Team Stat Pack – GP (52)

(32-17-3-0) 67 pts (2^nd East Div / 4^th Eastern Conf / 7^th OHL points)

 

 Leaders

• Goals – Frasca (36), Edmonds, Arcuri (28), Chromiak (26)
• Assists – Edmonds (64), Wright (47), Frasca (38)
• Points – Edmonds (92), Frasca (74), Wright (71)
• PIMs – Haché (63), Poole (53), Stewart (44)

• Shots– Edmonds (221), Wright (185), Frasca (182)

• Powerplay Points – Edmonds (35), Frasca (25), Wright (23)

• Rookie Points – Ludwinski (29), Soto (23), Thibodeau (9)
• Defence Points – Peric (32), Murray (27), Bélanger (15)
• Plus/Minus – Frasca (+28), Edmonds (+24), Murray (+21)

 

On The Front

The Frontenacs take a trip to Ottawa on Wednesday, Mar16 for a battle with the 67’s. The team returns home on Friday, Mar 18 versus the Division-leading Hamilton Bulldogs. On March 18, the Fronts are going retro. The team will be wearing a special throwback inspired jersey with a twist. We are working with the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy and BIG FM to help promote Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month.

Tickets are available at ticketmaster.ca or the venue box office. The Capacity at Leon’s Centre is now at 100%.

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.