Preview: Rangers head to Pennsylvania for Wednesday clash with Erie
Erie, Penn. – For the final time of the regular season, the Rangers will appear in midweek OHL action as they travel to Erie to face the Otters Wednesday. The Rangers are 8-2-1-0 in their last 11 contests and have three games remaining in the regular season. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Erie Insurance Arena (capacity, 6,716)
Notable Links:
- TV: Super Sports Pack, cable 466 (Ontario)
- Video Stream: OHLLive.com | CHL App
- Radio: CityNews 570 AM CKGL
- Live Stats
- Live Tweets
Head-to-Head:
Kitchener has an 18-7-1-2 overall record over the Otters over the past five seasons and are 8-4-1-0 on the road at the Erie Insurance Arena over the same span. Kitchener has yet to win in Erie this season going 0-2-0-0, despite posting a 2-1-0-0 on home ice against the Otters this campaign.
Most recently, Kitchener went 2-0-1-0 this past weekend, collecting 5-of-6 possible points, while playing three games in as many days. The Rangers are an impressive 8-2-1-0 in their last 11 contests
Erie has managed just a single point in their last seven games and are currently on a seven-game losing streak going 0-6-1-0. The Otters are also 1-7-1-1 in their last 10 games and sit in last place, 10th-overall in the Western Conference with 47 points.
Scouting the Rangers:
Carson Rehkopf owns the only active point streak entering play Wednesday night. Rehkopf added two goals Sunday afternoon to extend his point-streak to three games with two goals and three assists. Rehkopf is now up to 28 goals on the season and two more goals would see him become the fourth Ranger to hit the 30-goal marker.
Francesco Arcuri (Dallas Stars) and Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings) both recorded two points in Sunday’s victory keeping them both atop the Rangers roster in points with 87. Arcuri with 46 goals and 41 assists in 68 games and Pinelli has 38 goals and 49 assists in 58 games.
Hunter Brzustewicz is up to 55 points (6G 49A) in 65 games this season. Brzustewicz has the seventh-most points by a defenceman in the league this year and the fifth highest assist total. His next assist will make him the sixth defenceman to reach the 50-assist total.
The next start for Marco Costantini will be his 46th of the season and will become a new personal record for the goaltender. In 45 appearances this season, Costantini has a 23-17-4-0 record, has the ninth-best goals against average (3.22) and has the fifth-highest save percentage amongst starting goaltenders at .899. Marcus Vandenberg just recorded his first-career OHL shutout, blanking the Kingston Frontenacs 6-0 at home on Mar. 17.
Francesco Arcuri (Dallas Stars), Tomáš Hamara (Ottawa Senators), Filip Mešár (Montréal Canadiens), Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings), Roman Schmidt (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Danny Zhilkin (Winnipeg Jets) are six Kitchener skaters that are both drafted, and signed, by their NHL clubs respectively.
Scouting the Otters:
Carey Terrance has amassed the most points on the Otters’ roster this season with 46 points (30G 16A) in 64 games. Terrance is Erie’s best point-producer against the Rangers, totaling seven points (5G 2A) in five games and has only been left off the scoresheet in one of those games.
Spencer Sova leads the Erie blueline in points this season with 38 points (15G 23A) in 65 games. Sova is tied for the third-most goals on the roster and the fourth most assists.
Malcolm Spence has the seventh most points by a rookie in the OHL this season. Spence has 39 points (15G 24A) in 61 games. Spence is averaging a point per game with five points (1G 4A) in five games.
Nolan Lalonde (Columbus Blue Jackets) has suited up in the most games for Erie this season. Lalonde has earned the nod in 39 games, playing to a .866 save percentage and 4.10 goals against average. Lalonde has seen the Rangers four times this season and has a 3-1-0-0 record.
Liam Gilmartin (San Jose Sharks) and Nolan Lalonde (Columbus Blue Jackets) are the two Erie skaters that are drafted by their NHL clubs respectively.
Broadcast Coverage:
Wednesday night’s contest will be televised live across the province of Ontario on the Super Sports Pack on channel 466 for cable subscribers.
The game will be streamed live online in a web browser at OHLLive.com, and on the CHL App for mobile devices including smart TV’s such as Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire.
Additionally, fans can listen to the game on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL. Mike Farwell (play-by-play) and Chris Pope (colour commentary) will call the game on the radio. Fans can tune in to the radio pregame show 30 minutes prior to puck drop. For more information on Kitchener Rangers broadcast coverage, click here.
Next Up:
The Rangers get set to host the Flint Firebirds for their final regular season home game of the year Friday night. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. Great seats are still available here.
Photo Credit: Tiffany Luke / Kitchener Rangers
For inquiries, contact:
Dominic Hennig
Senior Director, Broadcasting, Communications & Hockey Operations
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
519-497-9342
[email protected]
