Game Preview: Storm host Rangers in matinee match-up
Following two consecutive losses to Midwest Division opponents in the Erie Otters and the London Knights, the Guelph Storm will look to rebound on Sunday against the Kitchener Rangers.
Steph Coratti, GuelphStorm.com
The Storm, dropping two straight to the Erie Otters and the London Knights this past Wednesday and Friday respectively, will be looking to put forth a complete 60-minute performance after quick collapses in what could be considered strong displays overall.
On the other hand, the Rangers visit the Sleeman Centre with a four game losing streak weighing heavy in their back pocket. Since defeating the North Bay Battalion 5-1, Kitchener has fallen to the likes of the Sudbury Wolves, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, and the London Knights. Recently, the Battalion redeemed themselves, handing the Rangers their fourth straight loss.
Guelph, eyeing the third-sitting London Knights, will consider every point a must-have in the chase, while Kitchener holds an identical mentality as they chase another Midwest Division rivaly in the Owen Sound Attack who currently hold fifth in the conference.
Player Watch
Overage Storm defenseman Zac Leslie will be putting on crimson for the final time on Sunday as his four-year OHL career is cut short due to season-ending shoulder surgery. Selected by Guelph in the fourth round of the 2010 OHL Priority Selection, the now Los Angeles Kings prospect began his major junior career back in 2011, notching his first career point in his first career game with the Storm on Sept. 22 in Windsor. Since then, Leslie has developed into the backbone of the blueline for Guelph, suiting up for 249 games while compiling 39 goals and 116 assists for 155 career OHL points. A fitting touch for a nothing but stellar career, Sunday will be Leslie’s 250th career game.
The Ottawa, Ontario native evidently excelled offensively, hitting four points in a single game (a career high) three times. Leslie has also scored 10 game-winning goals in his career, a total which holds a second-ranking among Guelph’s all-time points list for defensemen.
Recording 17 points (two goals, 15 assists) through 65 games in his rookie season, Leslie only improved from there, totaling for 40 points (12 goals, 28 assists) as a sophomore, and hitting the 50-point mark in 2013-14. This season, the Storm assistant captain has posted 11 goals and a career-high 37 assists for 48 points in 56 games – a season poised to be his best yet. In addition, Leslie is a mere two points separated from tying a former Storm great who wore eight and also Los Angeles Kings blueliner, Drew Doughty, for fourth all-time in points scored by a Storm defenseman.
With one concluding season, another reignites as Storm forward Robby Fabbri makes his much-anticipated return to the line up. Fabbri will suit up for the first time since suffering a high ankle sprain at the 2015 World Junior Championships in December. Certainly a significant element to this Storm team, the 2014 first round (21st overall) selection of the St. Louis Blues posted 38 points (18 goals, 20 assists) in just 22 games earlier in the season. Impressively enough, Fabbri’s totals had held on to a top five presence on the Storm roster right up until Chris Marchese leapfrogged the Mississauga, Ontario native on Friday night with a goal (his 39th point on the season) against the London Knights.
The Opponent: Kitchener Rangers (27-21-3-7, 64 points)
Since downing the North Bay Battalion 5-1 on Feb. 19, the Kitchener Rangers have slid to four straight losses – a skid that began against the Sudbury Wolves in a 2-1 decision on Feb. 20.
The Rangers went on to drop games against the best in the West in the Sault Ste. Marie Greyounds, and the currently third-ranked London Knights. The fourth consecutive loss for Kitchener was dealt in the image of revenge on Friday night, as the Battalion handedly grabbed a 5-1 victory.
In the last ten games played, the Rangers have compiled a 4-5-0-1 record, a stretch that has seen the club fall from fifth in the Western Conference to sixth, and chasing the Owen Sound Attack in fifth who hold one-game in hand with a three point advantage.
Looking to end the skid, Ryan MacInnis, sitting atop Kitchener’s roster with 54 points (21 goals, 33 assists) in 58 games, will have to lead the way. MacInnis was a minus-three against the Battalion this past Friday with no points, two stats that the 1996-born centreman will likely look to significantly change against the Storm on Sunday.
Nick Magyar is also one to watch offensively for the Storm. The Mentor, Ohio native has registered 28 points (16 goals, 12 assists) in 55 games this season, and additionally, the sophomore Ranger has registered three goals in five games against Guelph.
Looking to the paint, Jake Paterson will be one to solve on Sunday for Guelph. The Rangers’ goaltender, despite the losing streak, has put forth strong efforts in the crease, including facing 40 shots, and turning aside 35, against the elite Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Feb. 21. In 19 games played for the Rangers this season, the former Saginaw Spirit goalie has a 10-7-1-1 record and a .925 SV% and an improved 2.46 GAA.
Season Series: Kitchener 3, Guelph 2
- Oct. 13: Kitchener 6, Guelph 5
The opening 20 minutes of the 2014-15 season series for the Highway Seven rivalry featured just about everything – including a total of six goals for a 3-3 tie, and back-to-back shorthanded markers for the Storm scored by Jason Dickinson and Pius Suter.
The parade of goals continued in the middle frame, however, it would be the Rangers grabbing the edge with three additional tallies compared to Guelph’s lone second period goal that would be Tyler Boston’s first of his OHL career.
Former Storm defenseman Ben Harpur would make a comeback push with a power play goal at the 8:23 mark of the third, but Guelph would fall short.
Justin Nichols came in reflief of former Storm netminder and now Peterborough Petes goalie Matthew Mancina who allowed six goals on 22 shots against. Nichols was perfect on five shots faced through just over 22 minutes played.
- Oct. 21: Kitchener 4, Guelph 1
Eight days later, things didn’t look much better for the Storm who made the trip to the Aud for the second tilit against the Rangers on the season.
Nick Magyar and Robby Fabbri both potted their fourth goals of the season in the first and second periods respectively to bring the contest into the final frame knotted at one.
En route to a 4-1 win, the Rangers would score three unanswered goals in the third period to take their second victory over the Storm after dropping eight straight to the 2014 OHL Champions the previous season.
- Nov. 23: Guelph 3, Kitchener 0
Putting forth arguably one of their best efforts and overall complete performances of the 2014-15 season thus far, the Storm dropped the Rangers 3-0 in Kitchener’s first visit to the Sleeman Centre on the campaign.
Tyler Bertuzzi had a pair of goals in the win, while Nichols earned first star honours with the 32-save shutout.
- Jan. 11: Guelph 4, Kitchener 2
Keeping to the theme of home-team-wins, the Storm skated to their second victory over the Rangers on the season after scoring three straight third period goals to break a 1-1 tie held through 40 minutes of play.
C.J. Garcia had a goal and an assist in the win for second star recognition. Rookie netminder Bradley van Schubert was the game’s first star with 32 of 34 saves.
- Jan. 31: Kitchener 4, Guelph 1
GAME NOTES
- Sunday’s game will be the last of veteran Storm defenseman Zac Leslie’s OHL career due to season-ending shoulder surgery. In four years with the club, Leslie has compiled 155 points (39 goals, 116 assists) in 249 career games.
- Storm forward Robby Fabbri will return to the line up for the first time since suffering a high ankle sprain while representing eventual gold medal winning Team Canada at the 2015 World Junior Championships.
- Chris Marchese takes a nine game point streak into Sunday’s game, registering four goals and ten assists over that span.
- The afternoon match-up on Sunday will feature Guelph’s third straight Midwest Division opponent in just as many games. The Storm will close out the Midwest- stretch hosting the Owen Sound Attack next on Mar. 6.
- Sunday’s contest will be the sixth of eight meetings between the Storm and the Rangers. Kitchener holds a 3-2 season series lead.
- Throughout the 2014-15 season series thus far, the home team has not lost.
Printable version of Guelph versus Kitchener match-up sheet.
