Storm host Rangers on Friday
By Eric Balnar, Guelphstorm.com
It may be a day past Halloween, but on Friday Storm fans will get one more treat.
The Battle of Highway 7 continues when the Kitchener Rangers (4-8-0-0) come to a place no visiting opponent has found success this season – the Sleeman Centre.
This is the first time since 2008 Guelph’s arch-rivals have made a Friday night appearance in the Royal City.
The Storm (13-3-0-0) has been simply dominant at home, going 8-0-0-0 and outscoring opponents 48-21.
And they come in scorching hot. Guelph has won their last eight games overall, are ranked a season-high second in the CHL Top 10 rankings and have a bundle of players putting pucks in the net.
It’s a bit of a different story for the Kitchener Rangers.
The Rangers have lost four in a row and seven of their last eight including a 6-3 loss to the Storm at home last week.
While it seems like a battle of hot and cold, this match-up is anything but.
These two neighbours always put on an emotionally fueled spectacle for the fans where stats, logic and streaks don’t really matter.
Here’s what to watch for on Friday night:
THE PLAYERS
Guelph: Matt Finn (pictured) – In an emotional affair, Guelph will look to their captain to help keep the boat steady. Finn has also been setting the tone offensively on the ice as of late. The Maple Leafs draft choice is on a 10 game point streak (4 goals, 8 assists), the longest of his OHL career.
Kitchener: Radek Faksa – He went 13th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft for a reason. The Dallas prospect has good size and can punish you with decent hands. He is Kitchener’s leading goal scorer with 8 goals in 11 games. Faksa also punished the Storm in last year’s playoff series scoring 5 points in 5 games. He has 15 points in 15 career games vs. the Storm.
THE GAME
Kos For Concern – The offensive numbers don’t look good for the Rangers. Kitchener has scored 32 goals this season. Storm forwards Brock McGinn and Scott Kosmachuk have 29 goals combined, putting the Storm firepower into perspective. Guelph has 86 goals this year – nearly triple the amount of Kitchener’s.
Seventh Heaven – The Storm has scored seven goals (you read that right, seven) in their last three home games and three of their last four overall. They also put up seven earlier in the month vs. Owen Sound and at least five on 3 other occasions. The point? Guelph scores a lot of goals, which is big trouble for opponents and great news for hungry Storm fans looking for free wings from Buffalo Wild Wings.
Not-So-Special Teams – It hasn’t been pretty for the Rangers this season. Their power play is ranked last in the OHL operating at 13%. The penalty kill isn’t much better. The Rangers are killing 74% of their penalties good for 5th last in the league.
Home away from home – Unfortunately for the Storm, the Rangers have held the edge the last few seasons in contests at the Sleeman Centre. Kitchener is 7-3 over the course of the last two seasons in Guelph. That will be tough to extend, however. Guelph has yet to drop a game on home soil this year.
THE FINAL WORD
This game looks very favourable for Guelph. Not only do they score a lot of goals but they have the fifth highest save percentage in the league. That spells trouble for a Kitchener side that has trouble putting the puck in the net.
Even though the Rangers struggle offensively, Guelph has to be very careful they don’t let their emotions take over and end up in the box needlessly.
If the Storm plays smart, disciplined hockey they should come out the victors.
Puck drop is at 7:30 PM. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling 519-837-9690, visiting the Guelph Storm Box Office in Old Quebec street Mall or online here. New this year, tickets can also be purchased at the new Storm Kiosk in Stone Road Mall near H&M.
