Game Preview: Storm looks to keep rolling visiting Rangers

After earning five points, including two wins, in their last four games, the Guelph Storm will look to keep things going against the Kitchener Rangers on New Year’s Day. 

Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com — 

Both the Guelph Storm and the Kitchener Rangers will be looking to build off big wins to start the New Year on Friday night.

The Storm, coming off a solid 6-4 victory over the Peterborough Petes on Thursday, finished 2015 stringing together the best stretch of the season, earning five points in their last four games played – including two wins.

The Rangers, also earning two points on Thursday with a 5-2 win over the Niagara IceDogs, faltered a bit in the month of the December, sliding through a three-game losing skid before ending the year with two wins. Kitchener is 7-2-1-0 in their last 10 games played.

Game time for Friday night is 7:30. 

Player Watch

• Guelph Storm

After registering six points (four goals, two assists) through the first two months of the season, Luke Burghardt tallied for six points over his last six games played – including a three-point (one goal, two assists) performance in Guelph’s 6-4 win over Peterborough on Thursday. The sophomore forward now has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 29 games this season.

Also a big contributor to the Storm’s most recent win was rookie Liam Stevens, recording his first two career goals to have the best game of the campaign so far. Scoring his first OHL tally on a shorthanded break, the Waterdown, Ontario native then added a second on the power play to cover both ends of special teams on the night. With the two-goal effort, the five-foot-eight, 187-pound forward earned first star honours. 

Another rookie has been a recent standout as of late, with defenseman Brock Philips defining team player. Often splitting time as a forward and back on the blue line, the six-foot-five, 205-pound OHL freshman has two goals in his last three games played, while scoring all three of his career tallies in the month of December. Adding to the effort on the score sheet, the Fergus, Ontario native has put forth solid defensive displays while creating opportunities up front. 

• Kitchener Rangers

Leading the way to ending 2015 on a winning note for the Rangers was sophomore Connor Bunnaman, registering two goals and an assist for first star recognition in Kitchener’s 5-2 win over the Niagara IceDogs on Thursday. The Guelph, Ontario native currently has 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 34 games this season, including five multi-point performances. 

Adam Mascherin was also key in Kitchener’s New Year’s Eve victory, registering three assists in the 5-2 win. The five-foot-nine, 199-pound forward is second on the Rangers’ roster in points with 42 (18 goals, 24 assists) in 31 games this season – more than surpassing his rookie point total of 29 set in 62 games last campaign. The Maple, Ontario native carries a nine-game point streak into Friday’s match-up, compiling seven goals for 16 points in the stretch.

Mason Kohn is one to watch in Friday’s Highway Seven rivalry as well, with two goals in three games against the Storm this season. In 34 games overall, the 1997-born forward has tallied for 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists), setting a new career-high in his third OHL season. 

The Opponent: Kitchener Rangers (25-5-4-0, 54 points)

The Kitchener Rangers, currently third in the Midwest Division and only one point back of the second-sitting London Knights with a game in hand, are in the midst of a battle for not only first in the seemingly always competitive Midwest, but for first in the league.

After dropping three consecutive games in the month of December, including a 4-3 loss to the Knights on Dec. 16, the Rangers will likely come out of the gates hungry and poised to extend their current streak to three-straight wins on Friday.

The Storm have proven as of late, however, that they won’t go lay down without a fight. The key to the match-up stands in Kitchener’s defensive game, holding the lowest goals against (86) in the Ontario Hockey League. Additionally, the Rangers are one of the most disciplined teams in the league with the third fewest penalty minutes on the season (381), in comparison to Guelph’s 504. Looking at the Rangers third-overall power play unit, the Storm should make staying out of the penalty box a priority in order to continue their strong play into the New Year.

GAME NOTES 

• Friday’s match-up is the fifth of eight meetings between the Storm and the Rangers this season.

• Kitchener holds a 4-0 season series lead.

• Guelph has now earned five points in their last four games played, including two wins.

• Kitchener’s Connor Bunnaman is a native of Guelph, Ontario. 

• Following Friday’s contest, the Storm and the Rangers are right back at it, completing a home-and-home on Sunday afternoon in Guelph.