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OHL Kitchener Rangers

Game Day Preview: Rangers & Otters Set for Friday Night Battle at the Aud

March 2, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Kitchener, Ont. - Kitchener comes into Friday night's contest looking for their third-straight victory and have earned points in seven of their last nine games. The Rangers and Otters are still scheduled to meet Friday with puck drop set for 7:30 p.m. at The Aud. With more than 7,000 tickets sold, limited tickets are available and fans are encouraged to secure their seats online here.

Notable Links:

Tickets: Buy Online | (519) 578-1570

TV: Rogers TV, cable 20 (Kitchener)

TV: Super Sports Pack, cable 471 (Ontario)

Video Stream: OHLLive.com | CHL App

Radio: CityNews 570 AM CKGL

Live Stats

Live Tweets

Game Video Preview (Coming Soon)

Media Notes Packet (Coming Soon)

Lines (Coming Soon)

'East Avenue Blue' Game Day Magazine (Coming Soon)

Promotions:

Friday is the Rangers "Registered Early Childhood Educators (ECE) game. Since the implementation of the Canada-Wide Early Learning & Child Care (CWELCC) plan, there has been a significant increase in demand for licensed child care, and programs are facing workforce shortages. As part of the campaign, Children's Services has partnered with the Rangers to host an event at Friday's game. The focus is to promote the important work of RECEs in the community, acknowledge their dedication and commitment to providing high-quality child care, and invite interest in this growing profession. For more information, click here.

Head-to-Head:

Kitchener have a 17-7-1-2 record over the Otters over the past five seasons but have fallen to 1-3-0-0 this season. Their win came at The Aud back in November as they doubled up on the Otters 8-4. The Rangers have also fared well at The Aud in the past five years with a 9-3-0-2 record.

The Rangers are 5-3-2-0 in their last ten games and have earned at least a point in each of their last three games. Kitchener sit in the final playoff spot in the West, three points out of the seventh seed with two games in hand.

Erie come into Friday on a three-game losing streak but have picked up a point in that stretch. The Otters are 3-6-0-1 in their last ten games and sit at the bottom of the Western Conference on 44 points.

Scouting the Rangers:

Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings) added another three points on Wednesday night to extend his team lead to 76 points. Pinelli is up to 35 goals and 41 assists in 49 games. He also has an active three-game point streak in which he has totalled two goals and three assists.

Francesco Arcuri (Dallas Stars) became the fourth player this season to hit the 40-goal mark scoring twice to give him 41 on the season. Arcuri reaching the 40-goal mark for the first time in his OHL career. Arcuri tied for the second most goals and third most power-play goals. He also is averaging two points per game on a current three-game points streak with four goals and two assists.

Danny Zhilkin (Winnipeg Jets) is the third Ranger skater entering with an active points streak. Zhilkin has joined his two teammates with points in three-straight games with four goals.

Three different Ranger defencemen recorded a point in Wednesday night's win over Oshawa. The Rangers have all six defencemen in the double-digit points total. Brzustewicz (46) and Moore (42) lead the way with over 40 points. Motew (26) and Schmidt (Tampa Bay Lightning) with 21 both surpassed the 20-point mark, and Hamara (Ottawa Senators) with 15 and Andonovski with 14 round out the points by the defence.

Francesco Arcuri (Dallas Stars), Tomáš Hamara (Ottawa Senators), Filip Mešár (Montréal Canadiens), Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings), Roman Schmidt (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Danny Zhilkin are six Kitchener skaters that are both drafted, and signed, by their NHL clubs respectively.

Scouting the Otters:

Pano Fimis leads the Otter roster in points this season with 45 points (15G 30A) in 51 games. Fimis also has an active three-game point streak coming into Friday's game in which he has one goal and four assists.

Malcolm Spence who become NHL draft eligible in 2025, ranks sixth in his first OHL season amongst all rookies. Spence has 33 points (13G 20A) in 52 games for Erie and has 5 points (1G 4A) in four games against Kitchener this season.

Spencer Sova leads the Erie blueline this season with 34 points (15G 19A) in 56 games. Sova was the eighth overall selection in the 2020 OHL draft.

Nolan Lalonde (CBJ - FA) has played in all four games against Kitchener this season posting a 3-1-0-0 record with a 6.02 goals against average and 0.854 save percentage. Lalonde has started in 34 games for Erie this season playing to a 9-17-1-4 record. A third of his wins coming against the Rangers.

Liam Gilmartin (San Jose Sharks) and Nolan Lalonde (Columbus Blue Jackets) are the two Erie skaters that are drafted by their NHL clubs respectively.

Broadcast Coverage:

Friday night's contest will be televised live throughout Kitchener and the Waterloo Region on Rogers TV, cable channel 20. In addition, the contest can be watched across the province of Ontario on the Super Sports Pack on channel 471 for cable subscribers. Jason Hagholm (play-by-play), Dan Polischuk (colour commentary) and Sean Furfaro (host) will call the game on television.

The game will be streamed live online in a web browser at OHLLive.com, and on the CHL App for mobile devices including smart TV's such as including Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire.

Additionally, fans can listen to the game on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL. Mike Farwell (play-by-play) and Chris Pope (colour commentary) will call the game on the radio. Fans can tune in to the radio pregame show 30 minutes prior to puck drop and can be a part of the broadcast with extended postgame shows as Farwell takes phone calls from Rangers Nation after all home games at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. Fans can call 519-570-2545 during the radio postgame shows to talk Rangers Hockey.

Next Up:

The East Avenue Blue hit the road right after their game Friday and will make the trip to Owen Sound. Puck drop is set for 7:30p.m. at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics

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