Rangers clinch playoff spot with win over Otters
Three second period goals put the Kitchener Rangers ahead of the visiting Erie Otters for good as the Blueshirts held on for a 4-3 win to secure a spot in the 2020 OHL Playoffs.
The 35-14-5-2 Rangers have had an interesting season, recovering from a slow start as Mike McKenzie assumed interim head coaching responsibilities on November 25th. Since then, the Blueshirts have played to an impressive 28-4-3-0 mark, defeating several strong opponents along the way.
It’s official.#RTown | #OHL pic.twitter.com/bYxW91hfQh
— Kitchener Rangers (@OHLRangers) February 22, 2020
The veteran quarter of co-captains Riley Damiani and Greg Meireles along with Jonathan Yantsis and Liam Hawel have powered the team offensively while Arizona Coyotes prospect Axel Bergkvist has come on strong on the back end. Los Angeles Kings prospect Jacob Ingham has been among the OHL’s top goaltenders in the crease, posting a 2.91 goals-against average and .919 save percentage over 40 games.
The future looks bright in Kitchener, too. Thirteenth overall OHL Priority Selection choice Francesco Pinelli has 36 points (17-19–36) over 52 games in his 16-year-old season. Declan McDonnell has 19 goals, the most by a Rangers rookie since Radek Faksa posted 29 back in 2011-12.
The Rangers have won back-to-back games and seven of their last 10. They prepare to face the red hot Flint Firebirds on Saturday, looking to halt their 15-game winning streak at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center.
Kitchener is back in the OHL Playoffs for the sixth straight year, looking to go beyond their first round exit to the eventual League champion Guelph Storm last spring. The Blueshirts have won a total of two Memorial Cup titles along with four OHL Championships, last hoisting the Robertson Cup in 2008.
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