ROUND ONE SERIES PREVIEW: KITCHENER RANGERS VS. ERIE OTTERS
Kitchener, ON – The Kitchener Rangers landed as the West’s fourth seed and will match up with the fifth-seed Erie Otters in the first round of the 2024 OHL Playoffs. The best-of-seven opening-round series begins Friday night at The Aud. Puck drop is set for 7 pm.
- TV: Rogers Channel 20 (Kitchener)
- Video Stream: OHL Live on CHL TV
- Radio: 570 AM CKGL
- Live Stats
- Live Tweets
- Game Preview Video
- East Avenue Blue Magazine
SCHEDULE
Game 1: Fri., March 29 at Kitchener, 7:00 PM
Game 2: Sun., March 31 at Kitchener, 2:00 PM
Game 3: Tues., April 2 at Erie, 7:00 PM
Game 4: Thurs., April 4 at Erie, 7:00 PM
Game 5: Fri., April 5 at Kitchener, 7:00 PM*
Game 6: Mon., April 8 at Erie, 7:00 PM*
Game 7: Tues., April 9 at Kitchener, 7:00 PM*
*If necessary
PLAYOFF TICKETS
Tickets for Game 1 and 2 are on sale now, you can purchase yours online here. Fans can also call 519-578-1570 or you can purchase tickets in person at The Aud Box Office Sponsored by White Way Plumbing located at 400 East Avenue in Kitchener. Box Office hours may differ over the holiday weekend, find hours here.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
This Season:
Since the OHL trade deadline on January 10th, the Otters have racked up 35 points while the Rangers have added 30. Kitchener finished the season with an 8-4-2-0 record in their last 14 games while Erie had a 9-3-1-1 record.
The Rangers and Otters played each other six times this season with Kitchener taking the regular season series 4-1-1-0. When playing at The Aud the Rangers had a perfect 3-0 record. Through the season series, the Rangers put up 30 goals while the Otters had 23. The two clubs finished the regular season against each other on Saturday, March 23rd where the Otters won 4-3 in overtime.
Playoff History:
This playoff series marks the Rangers’ eighth consecutive season making the playoffs, while this is the Otters’ first playoff appearance since 2017 when they won the J. Ross Robertson Championship and finished second at the Memorial Cup Championship.
Last season, the Rangers made history as an eighth seed upsetting the first-place Windsor Spitfires in the first round in four games. This was the first time an eighth seed had ever swept a first seed in the OHL playoffs. Kitchener went on to play the London Knights in the second round where the Knights ended up advancing after a 4-1 series win.
The last time the Rangers and Otters met in the playoffs was in the first round of the 2005 playoffs when Kitchener entered the series as the fourth seed and Erie as the fifth seed. That season the Rangers had a 35-20-9-4 record for 83 points which is only three less than this season, while Erie finished with a 31-26-6-5 record and 73 points, the same points they collected this season. The Rangers knocked the Otters out in six games before sweeping Owen Sound in the second round followed by a five-game exit in the Western Conference finals against the eventual Memorial Cup Champions, the London Knights.
Regular Season Special Teams:
Kitchener
Overall Power Play: 6th in the OHL at 23.0%
Home Power Play: 6th in the OHL at 25.2%
Overall Penalty Kill: 4th in the OHL at 82.5%
Home Penalty Kill: 2nd in the OHL at 85.3%
Erie
Overall Power Play: 14th in the OHL at 20.6%
Away Power Play: 3rd in the OHL at 26.6%
Overall Penalty Kill: 17th in the OHL at 75.0%
Away Penalty Kill: 19th in the OHL at 69.6%
SCOUTING THE RANGERS (41-23-4-0) 86 points 68 GP
4th in the Western Conference, 5th in the OHL / 7th in Week 25 of the OHL Power Rankings
Rangers Roster:
The Rangers roster comes with an abundance of playoff experience as 17 of the 23 rostered players have played in the postseason, including both netminders, Jackson Parsons and Tristan Malboeuf. The Rangers roster is also loaded with five NHL-drafted skaters including three of them signed to their respective clubs.
Rangers to Watch:
Razor:
Carson Rehkopf (Seattle Kraken) finished the season second in goals (52) and ninth in points (95) in the OHL. The forward is a known threat on the power play with 16 power play goals (3rd most in the OHL) and 16 power play assists. Rehkopf is heading into his third playoff appearance having played 21 games with six goals and six assists for 12 points. This is the second most points by a current Ranger in the playoffs.
Brew:
On defence, Michigan native Hunter Brzustewicz (Calgary Flames) finished with the second-most points among all OHL defencemen and 10th overall in the league in points with 13 goals and 79 assists for 92 points. Brzustewicz has played nine games in two playoff series collecting four assists during the Rangers 2023 playoff run.
Sop:
Matthew Sop finished his final OHL season third in points on the Rangers and 11th in points in the league with 43 goals and 47 assists for 90 points. Sop is entering his third and last OHL playoff run having played in 20 games through four series with three goals and five assists throughout those games.
Goaltending:
Parsons:
Jackson Parsons has been the go-to goaltender for the Rangers this season finishing the year playing 51 games and a 27-18-2-0 record, a 2.99 goals-against average (fourth best in the league), a .897 save percentage, and a three-way tie for the most shutouts in the league at four. Parsons has played five playoff games in his OHL career recording a 3.06 goals against average and a .928 save percentage during those games.
Malboeuf:
Tristan Malboeuf played in 22 games in the regular season registering a 14-5-2-0 record with a 3.50 goals-against average and a .874 save percentage. Malboeuf has played in two playoff games in his OHL career, both with the Hamilton Bulldogs (now the Brantford Bulldogs). His goals-against average is 7.45 and his save percentage is .811 in those two games.
SCOUTING THE OTTERS (33-28-5-2) 73 points 68 GP
5th in the Western Conference, 11th in the OHL / 15th in Week 25 of the OHL Power Rankings
Otters’ Roster:
The Otters’ lineup consists of three NHL-drafted players, Carey Terrance (Anaheim Ducks), Martin Misiak (Chicago Blackhawks), and currently injured goaltender Ben Gaudreau (Drafted to the San Jose Sharks in 2021 turned FA). The Otters only have three players on their roster with playoff experience in Sam Alfano, Alexis Daviault, and Ben Gaudreau.
Otters to Watch:
- Pano Fimis led the Otters in points in the regular season with 25 goals and 51 assists for 76 points, which triples his 2022-23 season stat line. The centreman was the team’s leader in assists and power play assists (17) this season.
- Alexis Daviault led the Otters blueline tallying 37 points (7G, 30A) in 65 games this season. Daviault has played six playoff games, all with the Sarnia Sting, but has yet to register a point in the post-season.
- Sam Alfano finished the season with the third most points on the Otters. In 66 games Alfano had a 27-33-60 stat line with nine of those goals coming on the power play. He also led the Otters with the most game-winning goals (4) and a plus/minus of nine. Alfano has played four playoff games all with the Peterborough Petes in 2022 in which he registered one goal.
Goaltending:
Gaudreau:
The Otters top goaltender, Ben Gaudreau has been sidelined since January 21st due to an injury. Gaudreau is one of three Otters with playoff experience having played 22 games with Sarnia in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 playoffs. Gaudreau’s record in the postseason is 12-9 with a 2.55 goals-against average and 0.910 save percentage. Prior to Gaudreau’s injury he played in 34 games going 20-11-2-0 with a 3.29 goals-against average and a 0.890 save percentage.
Gibbons:
Jacob Gibbons has filled the gap without Gaudreau in the lineup playing in 20 games with a 5-7-1-0 record. His goals-against average this season was 5.11 and his save percentage was 0.819. Gibbons has won four out of his five last starts in net.
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 raffle purchases help to make a difference in our community! Also, watch for our added 50/50 Playoff Bonus Jackpot that will run throughout the Rangers playoff run. You’ll be able to add this special Jackpot ticket to your regular 50/50 purchase. Tickets can be purchased online anywhere in Ontario at Rangers5050.com and rangersjersey.com.
BROADCAST COVERAGE
The entire first-round series vs the Erie Otters 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 games will also be streamed live online on OHL Live on CHL TV. Additionally, fans can listen to the action on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL as Mike Farwell and Paul Fixter call the games.
UP NEXT:
The Rangers continue their best-of-seven series against the Otters on Sunday at home. Puck drop is set for 2 pm at The Aud. The series will switch back to Erie for Games 3 & 4 on Tuesday, April 2nd and Thursday, April 4th, at the Erie Insurance Arena. Don’t miss out on great seats to all Rangers’ playoff games and grab your tickets 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
leastwood@kitchenerrangers.com
Photo Credit: Tiffany Luke / Kitchener Rangers
