Game Preview: Kitchener Welcomes Mississauga to The Aud on Friday
Kitchener, ON – After posting a 4-3 victory over the Guelph Storm on Tuesday night at home, the Rangers are hosting the Mississauga Steelheads on Friday night for the first and only time of the season. Puck drop is set for 7 pm at The Aud.
- TV: Rogers Channel 20 (Kitchener)
- Video Stream: OHL Live on CHL TV
- Radio: 570 AM CKGL
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HEAD-TO-HEAD
This Season:
The Rangers last played the Steelheads on October 21st in Mississauga where the Rangers broke a four-game winning streak, losing 4-1. Current Steelheads Mason Zebeski, and Porter Martone netted the goals. Carson Rehkopf (Seattle Kraken) scored the only goal for the Rangers.
Over the Years:
In 11 regular season games dating back to the 2016-17 season, the Rangers own the overall advantage at 6-4-1-0, and when in Kitchener their record is 2-3-0-0. The 2019-20 season was the best campaign for the Rangers against the Steelheads when they won both games. In these 11 games, Kitchener has scored 35 goals and has allowed 34.
Team Statistics:
Kitchener
Overall Power Play: 6th in the OHL at 22.5%
Home Power Play: 5th in the OHL at 23.5%
Overall Penalty Kill: 6th in the OHL at 81.1%
Home Penalty Kill: 1st in the OHL at 85%
Mississauga
Overall Power Play: 12th in the OHL at 19.7%
Away Power Play: 14th in the OHL at 18%
Overall Penalty Kill: 7th in the OHL at 80.7%
Away Penalty Kill: 10th in the OHL at 80.2%
SCOUTING THE RANGERS (32-19-2-0)
4th in the Western Conference, 6th in the OHL / 6th in Week 19 of the OHL Power Rankings
Last Time Out:
The Rangers hosted the Guelph Storm on Tuesday night which they won 4-3 in regulation. Cameron Mercer notched his sixth goal of the season marking a career-high goals and season-high points (18). Eduard Šalé (Seattle Kraken) and Tanner Lam each grabbed their 10th goal of the season in the third period, and Hunter Brzustewicz (Calgary Flames) registered the game-winning goal.
Rangers to Watch:
- Hunter Brzustewicz (Calgary Flames) has been dominating the Rangers and league defencemen as he has the second most points for defenders in the league behind Saginaw’s Zayne Parekh. Brzustewicz has nine goals and 64 assists for 73 points. Over the past three games, Brzustewicz has notched four points with one goal and three assists.
- Carson Rehkopf (Seattle Kraken) hit the 70-point mark on Tuesday night against Guelph. Rehkopf now has 40 goals and 30 assists in 45 games and has hopped on a three-game point streak with three goals and one assist in these games.
- Matthew Sop is tied with Rehkopf at 70 points (31G, 39A). The centreman currently has the fifth most goals in the league and is tied for the most game-winning goals with seven.
Goaltending:
- Jackson Parsons has been a mainstay for the Rangers net having suited up in 39 games this season. His record is 20-14-1-0 with the fifth-best goals-against average in the league at 3.05 and a .895 save percentage. The netminder has played the Rangers’ last three games, most recently against Guelph on Tuesday when he saw 21 shots and allowed three finishing the game with a .857 save percentage. Parsons played against Mississauga on October 21st where he faced 29 shots and allowed three for a .897 save percentage.
- Tristan Malboeuf has played in 19 games this season with a 12-5-1-0 record. He has a 3.49 goals-against average and a .865 save percentage. The last full game Malboeuf played was on January 27th against the Saginaw Spirit when he faced 36 shots allowing four to finish the game with a .889 save percentage.
SCOUTING THE STEELHEADS (26-20-5-0)
6th in the Eastern Conference, 10th in the OHL / 10th in Week 19 of the OHL Power Rankings
Last Time Out:
The Mississauga Steelheads last took to the ice on Sunday afternoon to host the Sudbury Wolves. Mississauga lost to the Wolves 8-7 in overtime. 11 Steelheads got onto the scoresheet, Stevie Leskovar (1G), Porter Martone (1G), Chas Sharpe (1A), Luke Misa (1A), Parker Von Richter (1A), Adam Zidlicky (1A), Jakub Fibigr (2A), Dean Loukus (2A), Finn Harding (1G,1A), Lucas Karmiris (2G, 1A), and Angus MacDonell (Dallas Stars- 2G, 1A).
Steelheads to Watch:
- Luke Misa is currently leading the Steelheads in points (67), assists (46), and plus/minus (28). The NHL draft-eligible forward is on a five-game point streak with three goals and seven assists for 10 points in those games.
- Porter Martone has been a key component of the Steelheads’ offence in his 50 games played this season as he has the second most points on the team with 59. Martone is also seventh in the league in scoring with 30 goals and is currently on a four-game point streak with seven points (1G, 6A).
- Angus MacDonell (Dallas Stars) is the third top point-getter on the Steelheads with 21 goals and 26 assists for 47 points in 47 games. Over his last 10 games, MacDonell has seven goals and five assists for 12 points.
Goaltender:
- Ryerson Leenders has been the Steelheads’ starting goaltender playing in 38 games with a 19-17-2-0 record. The netminder has the second-best save percentage in the league at .909 and a 3.19 goals-against average. Leenders played on October 21st against Kitchener and faced 36 shots allowing one to finish the game with a .972 save percentage.
- 2007-born Jack Ivankovic has played 15 games this season with a 7-3-3-0 record. The freshman netminder has a 3.09 goals against average and a .906 save percentage in those 15 games. Ivankovic started Mississauga’s last game against Sudbury which he faced 14 shots and allowed five before being subbed in for Leenders.
RANGERS REACH
Support our community while cheering on your Rangers! Rangers Reach 50/50 and game-worn jersey Raffles take place at each Rangers home game and proceeds go to support our many community initiatives, including Scholarships, Community Impact Grants, in-kind donations, and more! Your 50/50 and jersey ticket purchases help to make a difference in our community! Tickets can be purchased online anywhere in Ontario at Rangers5050.com and rangersjersey.com.
BROADCAST COVERAGE
Friday’s game vs the Mississauga Steelheads will be televised live throughout Kitchener and the Waterloo Region on Rogers TV, cable channel 20, and can be watched across the province of Ontario on the Super Sports Pak on channel 470 for cable subscribers. The game will be streamed live online on OHL Live on CHL TV. Additionally, fans can listen to Friday night’s action on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL.
UP NEXT:
Kitchener finishes their homestand by hosting the Sudbury Wolves for a Sunday matinée with a 2 pm puck drop at The Aud. They then head to Peterborough for a mid-day Family Day game to face the Petes. The Rangers return home again on Friday, February 23rd at 7 pm against the Sarnia Sting. Don’t miss any of action and 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