Match-up preview: Kitchener Rangers vs Ottawa 67's

The Kitchener Rangers have kept the streak alive, earning their eighth straight consecutive win on Friday night over the Kingston Frontenacs.

“We beat a good team,” head coach Steve Spott commented following his team’s 4-3 victory. “It came down to a powerplay late in the game…unfortunately for Kingston I thought they deserved the point.”

Matthew Tipoff scored the game-winner on a two-man advantage late in the third, after Kingston took three consecutive penalties. Tipoff had two for the day, and was named first star of the game.

“I thought it was a physical game, but a smart played game by both teams,” added Spott.

For the Rangers, their powerplay has been the league’s most dominant special teams unit. In 21 games, they’ve scored 36 goals. The offensive production of Jason Akeson – the league leader in points – team captain Gabriel Landeskog, and blueliner Ryan Murphy has been lethal.

Additional support on the blueline has come from guys like Julian Melchiori – with an impressive plus-12 rating – and Cody Sol, with a plus-six rating.

“The team is really working well together,” Sol said. “The powerplay and penalty kill are really working.”

A struggling Rangers’ penalty kill has had a sudden resurge of effectiveness. Over the course of their eight-game win streak, the Rangers have let up only four goals with an opposing powerplay. This is vast improvement for Kitchener since the beginning of the season.

Another Eastern Conference team visits The Aud this afternoon, for the Rangers’ second game at home this weekend. This is the first match-up between the Kitchener Rangers and the Ottawa 67’s – and first of two for the season.

Kitchener just edges Ottawa in points with 32 and a 16-5-0-0 record – good for third overall in the West. Ottawa is second overall in their conference with a 15-8-0-0 record and 30 points.

“When you get these games where you don’t see each other, there’s really not a big rivalry,” Spott commented after Friday’s game. “It’s more of a feeling out process.” 

He expects the same for today’s contest, with these two evenly matched teams. Ottawa’s number-one line has also been the league’s offensive juggernaut. The trio of Tyler Toffoli, Ryan Martindale, and Shane Prince comprise arguably the best line in the OHL.

Kitchener’s defence will be kept busy. Melchiori explains how a basic strategy will be effective in shutting down the opposing team. “We’ve just got to keep it simple,” he said. “Just playing solid defence – chipping pucks out when you need to, staying with your guy, and being physical.”

Ottawa has had three games over the course of the weekend, and is sure to be feeling the effects of their extensive travels.

“Hopefully we can jump on them quickly,” said Spott. “We’re going to have to be sharp.”