Game Preview: Rangers Travel to Erie for the Second Time this Season on Saturday Night
Erie, PA – The Rangers grabbed their first win in five games on Friday night against the Guelph Storm. Kitchener travelled across the border to face the Erie Otters on Saturday night. Puck drop is set for 7 pm at The Erie Insurance Arena.
- Video Stream: OHL Live on CHL TV
- Radio: 570 AM CKGL
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HEAD-TO-HEAD
This Season:
Kitchener and Erie are heading into their fifth meeting of the season. The Rangers hold the advantage of winning all four games, with the most recent being hosted in Kitchener on January 12th concluding with a 6-2 Rangers win. Carson Rehkopf (Seattle Kraken) had a hat trick, Matthew Sop had a three-point night with two goals and one assist and Adrian Misaljevic contributed one goal. Trent Swick had three assists, Hunter Brzustewicz (Calgary Flames) had two assists, Simon Motew, Carson Campbell, Cameron Reid, Filip Mešár (Montreal Canadiens), and Luke Ellinas each had an assist. Otters’ skater, Pano Fimis had one goal and one assist along with Dylan Edwards adding a goal.
Over the Years:
The Rangers and Otters have played each other 27 times over the past five years, with Kitchener holding the advantage of a 17-7-1-2 record and when playing in Erie they continue to dominate with a 7-4-1-0 record. The 2019-20 season was the best campaign for the Rangers going undefeated in six games against the Otters.
Team Statistics:
Kitchener
Overall Power Play: 6th in the OHL at 22.9%
Away Power Play: 8th in the OHL at 22.4%
Overall Penalty Kill: 8th in the OHL at 81%
Away Penalty Kill: 13th in the OHL at 77%
Erie
Overall Power Play: 7th in the OHL at 22.7%
Home Power Play: 16th in the OHL at 17.1%
Overall Penalty Kill: 19th in the OHL at 71.7%
Home Penalty Kill: 7th in the OHL at 81.6%
SCOUTING THE RANGERS (31-16-2-0)
4th in the Western Conference, 6th in the OHL / 4th in Week 17 of the OHL Power Rankings
Last Time Out:
The Rangers grabbed a 3-2 overtime victory on Friday night against the Guelph Storm. Filip Mešár (Montreal Canadiens) opened the scoring for the Rangers while Matthew Sop scored the game-tying goal with 41 seconds remaining in regulation and forced overtime. Sop then scored the game-winning goal on a penalty shot. This was Sop’s fourth overtime goal this season.
Rangers to Watch:
- Matthew Sop is second on the Rangers in points with a 30-38-68 stat line. Sop has been the team’s overtime hero in four of five overtime wins this season for the Rangers, two of which were against Erie. Against the Otters this season the Rangers veteran has recorded five goals and three assists for eight points in four games.
- Hunter Brzustewicz (Calgary Flames) is the leading point-getter for the Rangers and is tied for third in points in the league with 69 (8G, 61A). Over the past 10 games, Brzustewicz has nine points with one goal and eight assists. In the four games against Erie this season the defenceman has 10 assists.
- Trent Swick has played 46 games this season recording 50 points with 20 goals and 30 assists. Swick sits in the fourth for points, fourth in goals, and third in assists for the Rangers. Over the past 10 games, Swick has 12 points, three goals, and nine assists. In four games against Erie, Swick has provided three goals and five assists.
Goaltending:
- Jackson Parsons helped lead the Rangers to a victory on Friday night against the Storm when faced with 25 shots allowing two to finish the game with a .920 save percentage. Parsons has a 20-12-1-0 record for the Rangers this season. He has played two games against the Otters finishing the most recent game on November 29th with a .909 save percentage and a 3.78 goals-against average.
SCOUTING THE OTTERS (22-20-4-0)
7th in the Western Conference, 13th in the OHL / 12th in Week 17 of the OHL Power Rankings
Last Time Out:
The Erie Otters travelled to London facing the Knights on Friday night ultimately losing 5-3. Pano Fimis grabbed the Otters first goal followed by Malcolm Spence scoring the next two. Carey Terrance (Anaheim Ducks) and Kaleb Smith each had an assist.
Otters to Watch:
- Pano Fimis leads the Otters in points with a 16-37-53 stat line. Fimis has 15 points, four goals and 11 assists over his last 10 games. Against the Rangers this season Fimis has recorded two goals and five assists.
- Malcolm Spence has played 46 games this season recording 14 goals and 34 assists for 48 points which places him second in points for the Otters. Spence is currently on a five-game point streak with four goals and three assists for seven points and over the past 10 games has added another four assists and one goal. He has two goals and four assists against the Rangers this season.
- Leading the Otters blueline is Alexis Daviault with five goals and 22 assists for 27 points. Over his last 10 games, Daviault has recorded three goals and four assists.
Goaltender:
- Ben Gaudreau is leading the Erie netminders with a .889 save percentage and a 3.31 goals-against average. Gaudreau has a 21-11-2-0 record while in the net for the Otters. He has played in one game against the Rangers this season on November 29th where he forced the game to overtime facing 37 shots, allowing five to finish the game with a .865 save percentage and a 4.72 goals-against average.
BROADCAST COVERAGE
Saturday’s game vs the Erie Otters will not be televised live throughout Kitchener and the Waterloo Region on Rogers TV. The game will be streamed live online on OHL Live on CHL TV. Additionally, fans can listen to Saturday night’s action on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL.
UP NEXT:
The Rangers begin their Eastern Ontario swing starting in Kingston facing the Frontenacs on Friday night followed by a trip to play the Ottawa 67’s on Saturday afternoon. The Rangers will then return home on Tuesday, February 13th to host Guelph. Great tickets are still available, grab your tickets to the action at The Aud Box Office sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online here.
For inquiries, contact:
Lindsay Eastwood
Manager of Communications and Team Services
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
613-793-0168
[email protected]
Photo Credit: Tiffany Luke / Kitchener Rangers